January 28, 2010
Screeching Weasel And Riverdales in Toronto
Screeching Weasel plays the Phoenix Theater May 14th with the Roman Line and the Visitors. Tickets HERE
Riverdales play the Mod Club May 15th with the Creeps and Varsity Weirdos. Tickets HERE
Also, there are a handful of tickets left for Screeching Weasel in Chicago on February 26th HERE and for the Riverdales in Philadelphia on April 24th HERE
December 18, 2009
Screeching Weasel & Riverdales in Philadelphia
Tickets on sale now!
Screeching Weasel - Friday, April 23, 2010 7PM w/ Lemuria and The Challenged
Buy tickets HERE
Riverdales - Saturday, April 24, 2010 3PM (support bands to be announced)
Buy tickets HERE
Tickets are still available for the Riverdales at Reggie's in Chicago on January 23rd HERE.
And you can still buy tickets for Screeching Weasel at Reggie's in Chicago on February 26th HERE.
Phillip Hill Update
As noted below, Phillip Hill recently got beat up pretty bad down in Nashville. His band the Teen Idols were supposed to play Reggie's in Chicago on New Year's Eve. Obviously they can't make the gig, but the show is still happening and Reggie's will be donating $5 from each ticket sold to help Phillip with his medical expenses. You can buy tickets HERE and if you just want to donate money you can PayPal it to helpphilliphill@gmail.com
December 16, 2009
A Few Things
1. If you're looking for charities to donate to over the holiday season, we have three that we like. Second Harvest Food Bank of Madison, WI has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator so you can be sure your money will go where it's supposed to.
Sharing Resources Worldwide, also headquartered here in Madison, collects and ships medical supplies and equipment to people all over the world. It was started and is run by two nurses who do a terrific job of stretching dollars. I've been to the warehouse and seen firsthand what they do so I can tell you they're well worth supporting.
Finally, Right Turn is a Massachusetts based non-profit that helps artists with substance abuse problems clean up and stay sober. As you probably know, most working musicians don't have health insurance, and treatment is remarkably expensive. Founded by Woody from the Del Fuegos, they've got an excellent reputation and are vouched for by Joe King of the Queers and JJ Rassler of DMZ and the Downbeat 5.
2. Ex-Screeching Weasel guitarist Phillip Hill recently got the shit kicked out of him in a parking lot by four guys down in Nashville while trying to help a woman the guys were attacking. Like most musicians, Phillip has no medical insurance. Greg from Merman Records had the idea to set up a fund for him and Mass Giorgini set up a Paypal address for him. People have already contributed generously so far but it's hard to say what the hospital bill will be for a collapsed lung, four broken ribs and facial lacerations (one of the guys hit him in the face a bunch of times with the side mirror from his car), not to mention his lost income from being bedridden and unable to work. You can contribute here: helpphilliphill@gmail.com
3. Owen and Dustin Schoenfeld, the twin sons of Mitch over at Reggie's just had their first book published. I haven't read it yet but it looks pretty cool. The kids are only 13. They wrote the book after the White Sox won the World Series then Googled publishers and sent out letters until they found somebody willing to publish it. You've got to admire that kind of work and determination, especially for kids that age. Check it out here.
November 18, 2009
Obama on KSM As A Criminal Defendant
This Boston Globe article takes a look at President Obama's defense of the decision to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed as a criminal in federal court. Here's the money quote:
Obama said that critics won't find the decision "offensive at all when he's convicted and when the death penalty is applied to him."
If you believe that KSM and his cohorts should be treated like terrorists who committed acts of war - and here's an excellent Wall Street Journal article on that subject by UC Berkeley law professor John Yoo - the concept of treating them as criminal defendants is appalling. But if we're going to classify them as criminal defendants, aren't they entitled at the very least to a presumption of innocence and a fair trial? If the President has already determined the verdict and the sentence, what is the point of holding a trial?
The President apparently believes that objections to criminal trials for terrorists can be chalked up to simple bloodlust; he evidently either doesn't realize or can't believe that there are serious, legitimate concerns about the intelligence and security implications of this decision.
We've already seen what this approach to terrorism in the Clinton years got us. Has Obama really managed to miss the lessons of the 9/11 attacks?
November 17, 2009
Screeching Weasel at Reggie's in Chicago 2/26/10
Screeching Weasel plays Reggies in Chicago on Friday, February 26th with Lemuria and The Seething Coast. Tickets on sale tomorrow at noon central HERE. This is a 17+ show. See ya there!
October 29, 2009
Riverdales 1/23/10 in Chicago - UPDATE
The Riverdales are playing Reggie's in Chicago on January 23rd. This one is 17+. Tickets available HERE. A couple of notes:
1. Vapid's back on bass. Sleepy Lamb, who played bass for our last show, is on second guitar. He is also now part of the band and will be playing second guitar on our new album.
2. Speaking of our new album, we're doing our final demos next week and recording the album in December for Recess Records. We'll be heading down the home stretch on the mix by the time of the 1/23 show so we'll probably play a couple of the new tunes.
3. Justin Perkins will be taking a break to come down to Chicago to record the show for a live album. Make your voice heard! Be part of history! Etc.!
4. Supporting are Tenement and the Sugar Stems, two of my favorite Wisconsin bands.
Hope to see ya there.
October 14, 2009
Screeching Weasel and Riverdales Live
Tickets still available for Screeching Weasel at New City Compound in Edmonton on December 11th. Click HERE to buy. Old Wives & Spinoffs support.
Tickets for the Riverdales at Reggie's in Chicago on January 23rd went on sale today. Click HERE to buy. Tenement and Sugar Stems support.
September 16, 2009
Check It Out
Three bands that have been getting a ton of play lately here at Weasel Manor:
Jesse Michaels of Operation Ivy and Common Rider has a band called Classics Of Love that just released a killer 6 song EP on Asian Man Records. Jesse hasn't lost a step - this EP is fantastic. Listen HERE and buy the EP HERE
Chris Barrows of the Pink Lincolns is fronting a ferocious new punk band called the Spears these days. Chris is great as always and the songs are a little more complex musically than I was expecting which was a nice surprise. Kick ass guitarist too. This is terrific stuff. Listen HERE, buy HERE
And finally, out of Ottawa come the Visitors reminding me how good Ramones-based pop punk can be when done right. This stuff is sheer idiot savant bliss. Listen HERE, buy HERE and HERE
September 01, 2009
Riot Fest West Postponed
Sorry about this gang - Riot Fest Chicago is still happening but Riot Fest L.A. has been postponed. I just got this from Riot Mike:
Riot Fest West Postponed until Spring 2010
Firstly, I want to apologize to the people who were excited for Riot Fest to come to Los Angeles - it was always a dream of mine that one day Riot Fest would be able to take place in another part of the U.S. But, sometimes those types of dreams need to be put on hold.
A few weeks ago, I found out that my health was failing, and I was advised by doctors to take a few months off for treatment. It was somber news to say the least, but my immediate reaction was how this would inherently affect Riot Fest. After speaking with family and close friends about the situation and mulling it over for a few days, I decided that if I couldn't give it my all because of health related issues, then, I should postpone Riot Fest West until I'm cleared by doctors, which should hopefully be in Spring 2010.
With all of that said, there is no way in hell I would let Riot Fest Chicago not happen. For people who are attending the Chicago fest - don't fret, it is all systems go.
Even with all of this stuff happening with me right now, the amount of good wishes I've already received from bands, agents, managers and fellow promoters makes me feel like one of the luckiest guys in the world -- and so goddamn thankful that DOA made its way to my walkman in 5th grade . This is by far the best music scene, and it was completely evidenced by talking with the bands, agents and so forth in the past 7 days
For all of you who have already purchased tickets for Riot Fest West, a refund was issued this morning, and once again I deeply apologize - this was the one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make... but, mark my words, we'll see you in 2010.
Your chum,
Riot Mike
