Fantano gave Rosenstock his Album of The Year accolade for HELLMODE, which Rosenstock released back in September 2023.
One of the prominent topics of the discussion was Rosenstock’s age and how he manages to keep himself “youthful” in his mentality as he moves into his 40s (he’s 41).
“I try to not think about it. Although like once you hit 40 it’s hard to not think about it you know what I mean?” Rosenstock noted. “I think also a lot of people who I know who are around my age, they all have like kids and stuff, they have full-blown families. So they’re focused on that I think.”
Music News: Jeff Rosenstock on Being his “True Freaky Self Sometimes”
Rosenstock would also discuss Jack Terrycloth of World Inferno Friendship Society, saying how his death during the pandemic influenced some of the writing on HELLMODE, mainly when he looked back at his own youth and how WIFS gigs would make him feel.
“I was a big fan of Jack Terrycloth from World Inferno Friendship Society who passed away over the pandemic.
“I thought about how many times I’d seen that band and how inspiring they had been to me, to like not only make music but just to like be ‘okay’ with being my true freaky self sometimes.”
AI in Creative Spaces
Jeff would also talk about the rise of AI-generated content in the creative spaces, specifically focusing on the recent issues with Sports Illustrated and people in the animation industry potentially losing their jobs to robots.
You can check out the full interview below but prepare to feel really really damn old if you’re over the age of 30 (hi):
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A new episode of the hit HGTV series “House Hunters” is being applauded for its realism after a millennial couple on the show had to choose between a home with deadly asbestos and one actively on fire, according to desperate sources excited to finally own property.
“Because of our stagnant wages and crippling debt, we never thought we’d ever be homeowners, but look at us now!” stated Laura Drysdale as she coughed up blood. “It was a tough choice between finalists because both had so much curb appeal, but in the end this turn-of-the-century Colonial with asbestos narrowly edged out the spacious Tudor burning to the ground, though it did have gorgeous wainscotting before the inferno turned it into ash. Caleb and I can’t wait to start entertaining here, although it will have to be mainly outside on the deck because this poison really does make breathing hurt. Can’t believe this place only cost half a million.”
Some loyal viewers like boomer Walter Cornelius were confused by the episode.
“What the fuck was that depressing shit?” stated the befuddled man. “Normally this series showcases really cool homes, but this time it was just a sad couple who weren’t turned off by the fact that one house was unfit for human habitation because of the presence of a known carcinogen, and the other was surrounded by firefighters. Not to mention that the third house they quickly eliminated from contention was the only one structurally sound and not a death trap, but it was 20 minutes from the city center which apparently was a deal breaker for them.”
Veteran TV producer Bryce Strider explained that shows are trying to more accurately reflect viewers’ economic realities.
“Millennials are thirsty for content that speaks to their everyday lives,” said Strider. “That’s why there’s a whole new slate of upcoming shows specifically geared to this generation. For example, since this demo rarely has disposable income to travel to exotic locations, the new season of ‘House Hunters International’ will just showcase homes from Staten Island. And the people behind ‘Million Dollar Listing’ will be spinning off an exciting new program called ‘Dollar Listing’ for homes that were built on toxic waste dumps and ancient burial grounds. Who said TV was dead!”
At press time, authorities were still searching for the couple after their home was swallowed up by a giant sinkhole which they weren’t aware of since they couldn’t afford a house inspection.
Many frustrations come with being an accomplished boundary-defying musical artist such as myself. But the biggest might be people trying to fit me into that unbearably restrictive box known as “genre.” This is why I now feel the need to go on the record finally and insist that nobody try to attach that kind of reductive label to my music. The only exception is if it happens to be one of the subgenres I’ve deemed would give me clout to be associated with.
Years ago, a roommate introducing me to her boyfriend told him that I make “electronic music.” Because for some reason, if you make music exclusively on a laptop with Ableton, people decide that you’re trying to be Skrillex. But then, a few weeks later, this guy whose blog I submitted it to referred to it as “deconstructed club.” and “electropunk.” Once I found out what that meant, I was all in!
Or how about when I started toying with prepared guitars and banjos tuned to Drop C, and my dad said in the yearly letter that I was making “folk rock.” Yeah, Dad. I’m sure The Lumineers would love to have me open for them. I get that he might be a little out of the loop when it comes to music, but if someone who bought my album on Bandcamp recognized it as “post-new weird America,” why can’t everyone else?
But no matter how hard you try to make something impossible to categorize, somehow, someone always comes through to put it in a dull, drab box inside of a shiny, exciting box. A few weeks ago, I released a tape consisting solely of degraded recordings of my carbon monoxide detector battery dying. A now-former friend called it “minimalism.” Meanwhile, someone I now recognize as a true friend rightfully labeled it as “post-minimalism.”
Now, you may be wondering, what makes one genre “cool” and another “not cool”? And, if I were to elaborate, you might reply by arguing that my system is rooted in an unhealthy fear of being grouped in a perceived conformist way yet still longing for community acceptance and validation on some level.
WILMINGTON, N.C. — Ambient musician Julian Sino’s latest album is being hailed as a masterpiece, but fans still don’t think it’s as good as “The Office” for background noise, sheepish sources confirm.
“Sino said in an interview that he created the piece amidst a devastating hurricane. He described the experience of watching his beloved hometown being ravaged right outside his studio,” said longtime fan Hudson Lozano, turning down the TV behind him. “Instead of stopping to mourn, he recorded the cacophony and slowed it down into the beautiful drone that carries throughout the album, almost as a goodbye to our crumbling earth. It’s as if he managed to fast-forward tragedy into beauty and understanding. Which all sounds great, but when I’m trying to get work done or do some chores around the house ‘The Office’ is much better at reducing my anxiety. Unless it’s ‘Scott’s Tots,’ I always skip that one.”
Sino has never been more proud of his work, but he is still not receiving the reaction he hoped for.
“This album is both something to wrestle with and listen to whenever you need to meditate. It’s about processing hardship to find inner peace. And if anyone in this house would turn off that goddamn show long enough to take a listen, maybe they’d know that!” shouted Sino, turning to his children in the living room. “They’re not even watching the TV! It just sits in the background while they play their video games. God forbid they try to experience what my critics are calling my ‘magnum opus’ for like five minutes! I mean, how many times can someone watch that episode where Jan throws a Dundie at Michael’s TV, anyway? I understand creating tension in art, but it’s just downright uncomfortable!”
Andrea Berger, a therapist specializing in sensory processing, has observed this phenomenon.
“I spend all day addressing patients’ issues, so of course I’ve tried every audio experience you can imagine. But they’re not all the same,” Berger explained. “White noise and nature sounds can certainly set a mood. A nice ambient playlist is kind of like prescribing Tylenol: it helps a little, but it doesn’t tackle any deeper issues. If I need the big guns, there’s only one choice: Jim putting a stapler in Jello on loop. It’s like shooting a familiar peace directly into your veins. It really is the best drug I’ve got. Well, besides actual hard drugs; those always work.”
At press time, Sino was seen openly weeping at a five-star steakhouse while his wife asked if she could just get a burger.
Black metal band Martyrdom has issued an apology following a recent incident involving a pig’s head being thrown into a crowd. And yes, you are in the real music news section of the site.
Video from the gig on Friday, January 19th in Houston, Texas got about online and it clearly showed a severed pig’s head being thrown towards the back of the crowd in attendance.
You can clearly hear someone in the crowd yelling “gross” as the head came flying over the crowd (which can be seen at the bottom of this article).
Music News: Martyrdom Apologises for Pig Head Throwing Incident
The band issued an official apology (via Lambgoat), stating:
“Hi everyone
“We just want to start off by saying we are incredibly sorry to anyone we offended with our actions and gimmicks on stage.
“We are a black metal band, and as part of it, we try to add a little bit of imagery and shock value to our set. Unfortunately our acts has gotten carried away and way out of hand, offending many and even harming some.
“We want to apologize to any vegans, Muslims, or other minority groups we may have offended, and to anyone who was harmed by our act.
“Most importantly we want to apologize to the White Swan, and Harry, the sound guy, specifically. thank you so much white swan for giving us the opportunity to play there.”
The band described their sound as a melding of traditional hardcore with textures and sounds from acts like Sonic Youth (via BrooklynVegan):
“We’ve always had the intention of approaching hardcore with a traditional base—taking our influence from bands like The Rival Mob, Suicidal Tendencies, Gorilla Biscuits, and so many others—but adding textures and sounds that you might hear from bands like Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, The Cure, Swans, etc.
This release is our most confident work yet, and we feel stronger in what we’re doing with every facet of the band. We want the riffs and vocals to hit and impact anyone who listens—whether you’re discussing the record or a live setting—while adding reverb, flange, and delay in sections to fulfill the ‘SPACED’ sound. We’re continually shaping what that means for us, and look forward to keep developing our sound in the hardcore space.”
To give fans a taste of what to expect in March, Spaced has released a video for their track Landslide, which showcases that hardcore sound with some ‘out there’ textures you’d expect from the alt-rock bands they were looking to emulate.
Check out the video here:
Music News: Spaced Tour Dates
The band will be heading out on tour in February as part of the Militarie Gun, Spiritual Cramp and Pool Kids shows, and the dates are as follows:
2/12: Raleigh, NC @ Kings
2/13: Washington, DC @ The Atlantis
2/14: Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
2/15: New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
2/16: Boston, MA @ The Sinclair
2/17: Montreal, QC @ Les Foufounes Electriques
2/18: Ottawa, ON @ The Brass Monkey
2/20: Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground
2/21: New Kensington, PA @ Preserving Underground
2/22: Detroit, MI @ Edgemen Printing
2/23: Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
2/24: Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
2/25: Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
The band will also be heading to the UK in March 2024, with notable dates alongside Going Off, Shooting Daggers and Uncertainty:
Music News: Album Release Schedule This Week (January 2024)
Here is a pick of the albums set to come out on Friday, January 26th 2024:
Date
Band
Album
01/26/24
Alkaline Trio
Blood, Hair, And Eyeballs
01/26/24
Chatham County Line
Hiyo
01/26/24
Courting
New Last Name
01/26/24
Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes
Dark Rainbow
01/26/24
Future Islands
People Who Aren’t There Anymore
01/26/24
Gruff Rhys
Sadness Sets Me Free
01/26/24
Heavy Seas
Distortion Days
01/26/24
House & Home and Suntitle
Split
01/26/24
Katy Kirby
Blue Raspberry
01/26/24
Kula Shaker
Natural Magick
01/26/24
Lyrical Lemonade
All Is Yellow
01/26/24
The Smile
Wall Of Eyes
01/26/24
The Umbrellas
Fairweather Friend
01/26/24
Torres
What An Enormous Room
01/26/24
Ty Segall
Three Bells
House & Home and Suntitle Split
One of our picks of the week is the House & Home and Suntitle split. The new Split features two tracks from House & Home which were produced at The Bakery Recording Studios by Will Beasley (The Dangerous Summer, Handguns, Turnstile), as well as two from Suntitle, produced at Creep Recording Studio by Jake Clarke.
The two bands gave their take on the new release to Punk Rock Theory:
Suntitle: “We’ve known House & Home since October of 2017 and instantly became best friends. They’re the best people and it kinda felt natural. We both had some songs sitting around and just decided it would be cool.”
House & Home: “We’ve been close to Suntitle for over 5 years now. They’re like family. In that time Matt joined their band, Joe moved to Richmond, and we’ve just been bouncing ideas off each other for our own bands. It made too much sense to collaborate a little bit.”
The Hard Times Real Music News
Make sure you check out some more of the REAL music news that we’re posting on The Hard Times these days:
Music News: Big Four Thrash legends Anthrax will be going back out on tour across the UK and Europe this year alongside Kreator, with Testament as opening support.
The band’s official Instagram account confirmed the 18-date tour this week: “International metal forces join in a monstrous union between US metal monsters, Anthrax and German thrash titans, Kreator. Completing this unmissable line-up, a very special guest, the Bay Area’s metal machine, Testament!”
Music News: Anthrax Tour Dates and Tickets
Tickets for the shows go on sale on January 26th and they are expected to sell quickly for this highly anticipated tour, considering it is three of the genre’s most legendary bands.
Here are the confirmed dates:
Anthrax UK Tour Dates 2024
21-Nov-2024 UK – Manchester, O2 Apollo
22-Nov-2024 UK – Wolverhampton, Civic Hall
23-Nov-2024 UK – London, Eventim Apollo
25-Nov-2024 IE – Dublin, 3 Arena
27-Nov-2024 UK – Glasgow, OVO Hydro
Music News: Anthrax Europe Tour Dates 2024
29-Nov-2024 FR – Paris, Zenith
30-Nov-2024 DE – Düsseldorf, Mitsubishi Electric Halle
01-Dec-2024 DE – Munich, Zenith
03-Dec-2024 LU – Esch-sur-Alzette, Rockhal
04-Dec-2024 CH – Zurich, Halle 622
06-Dec-2024 IT – Milan, Alcatraz
07-Dec-2024 DE – Stuttgart, Schleyerhalle
08-Dec-2024 DE – Berlin, Verti Music Hall
10-Dec-2024 HU – Budapest, Barba Negra
11-Dec-2024 PL – Katowice, Spodek
13-Dec-2024 DE – Frankfurt, Jahrhunderthalle
14-Dec-2024 DE – Hamburg, Edel Optics Arena
15-Dec-2024 NL – Den Bosch, MainstageTickets for the tour will be available from Friday, January 26th at 9 am GMT, from www.anthrax.com and www.kreator-terrorzone.de.
While we don’t have any Anthrax, Kreator or Testament in our amazing Hard Times Shoppe, you can still get some fantastic Metal albums on vinyl as well as the best merch that has ever existed (*may be exaggerated).
UK Punk legends Snuff have revealed that they will be going back out on the road in April 2024, with eight shows planned across the United Kingdom.
The band are currently out on an Acoustic tour, but this will see Duncan and the gang back out making a ton of noise and being one of the best live acts on the circuit right now.
Music News: Snuff UK Tour Tickets and Dates
Snuff will be heading out on tour in April 2024 on the following dates, with tickets available from the links listed:
If you aren’t aware, Snuff is a UK band that has been going since 1986, with multiple releases across their own record label 10past12records and Fat Mike’s iconic Fat Wreck Chords.
The band has been through several members, but the one constant is Drummer and Singer Duncan Redmonds.
Current Bass Player Dan Goatham is also the lead singer and guitarist of UK melodic hardcore punk band Spoilers, who are absolutely worth checking out in their own right.
MIAMI — A local couple working from home was reported that they were left with no choice but to start sleeping with one another, according to sources nostalgic for a quick shag in the office breakroom.
“Ever since Katie and I started working from home full-time, we’ve been forced to flirt with each other throughout the day. One thing led to another and let’s just say I have a new ‘work wife’ who just so happens to be my girlfriend of seven years,” stated Brad DeAngelo. “Sure, we hated having to go into a physical office because the commute was so draining, but at least it gave us the opportunity to run into other coworkers who were also DTF. But maybe this was a blessing in disguise and exactly what our relationship needed to get back on track. Who knew sleeping exclusively with your partner had so many benefits?”
Katie Knoblauch, DeAngelo’s partner of four years, offered her take on the situation.
“Help me!” stated Knoblauch as she frenetically chewed on some ice cubes. “The only thing that was keeping our relationship together was all the cheating and the excitement that came with it. I guess we could probably break up, but I could never afford a nice apartment like this by myself, and our cats are so attached it would be tough to break them up, what’s the point? Our relationship is just a lot stronger when I’m having sex with the mailroom guy in the office bathroom or storage closet. I’m not sure why that is, but I don’t question it.”
Relationship expert Dr. Clara Lau explained how they’re seeing an increase in horny couples looking to copulate with anyone except their significant others since more jobs have gone remote.
“It’s been a very difficult time for people who used to cheat on their partners,” described Dr. Lau. “Pre-pandemic, folks had so many great opportunities to bang other people but with more companies going remote, adulterers have become desperate. I’d say any delivery person dropping off anything to these people’s homes are at serious risk of being approached, seduced, and debauched. That might sound kind of cool, but think of all the packages that might never get delivered on time. But at least it would fulfill that sexual hole in every remote worker’s life.”
At press time, the couple was forced to have part-time affairs with other people after their jobs switched to a hybrid work schedule.
