SONG OF THE WEEK: 7-21-2024

SONG:  "Gold Star" 

ARTIST:  The Dangerous Summer

ALBUM:  "Coming Home" 

YEAR:  2022

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Ellicott City, Maryland

YEARS ACTIVE:  2006 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Gold Star" appears to be a song about really wanting to change for a person that you truly love. The vocalist, however, feels hardwired in his ways and though he can see all the wrongs within himself, he doesn't seem confident that he can change. But he seems to be willing to try for this person he loves.

THE DANGEROUS SUMMER DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2009 - Reach For The Sun (Hopeless Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2011 - An Acoustic Performance Of Reach For The Sun (Hopeless Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2011 - War Paint (Hopeless Records)

* peaked at #149 on the Billboard 200 on 8-6-11

2013 - Golden Record (Hopeless Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2018 - The Dangerous Summer (Hopeless Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2019 - Mother Nature (Hopeless Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2020 - Live In Baltimore 2019 (Hopeless Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2022 - Coming Home (Rude Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2024 - Gravity (Rude Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON THE DANGEROUS SUMMER:

The Dangerous Summer is a Maryland based band that formed back in 2006. In 2007, the band released an EP that caught the ear of Hopeless Records who in turn re-released the EP, beginning what would be a 12 year relationship with the band. Their debut full length studio album was released in 2009, titled "Reach For The Sun". This album hit #42 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. In 2011, the band released an acoustic version of "Reach For The Sun" as well as releasing their follow up full length, "War Paint". This album peaked at #149 on the Billboard 200 charts, making it the only The Dangerous Summer album to enter that chart. In 2013, "Golden Record" was released. In 2014, lead vocalist AJ Perdomo decided to leave that band as he and bandmate, Cody Payne,  just couldn't work together anymore. A few years later, Payne had to serve a year in prison for burglary and in 2017, The Dangerous Summer reunited with AJ Perdomo and Cody Payne posted online that he had left the band. The Dangerous Summer wrapped up their deal with Hopeless Records by releasing 2018's "The Dangerous Summer", 2019's "Mother Nature" and 2020's "Live In Baltimore 2019. The band would sign with Rude Records who would release the band's 2022 album "Coming Home" and their most recent release, 2024's "Gravity". The Dangerous Summer is a pop punk/melodic rock/alternative rock type of band. They were highly influenced by bands like Third Eye Blind and Jimmy Eat World. I started listening to these guys in what I call my "Taking Back Sunday years"! This was a period of time from the mid 2000's where I really got on a pop punk/melodic rock trip. The Dangerous Summer falls right in line with that style. I always felt that these guys were closer to the top of that food chain. Very good songs, good vocals. Great to see that their little hiatus in 2014 was short lived and The Dangerous Summer is still going strong.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

The Starting Line

Transit

The Early November

Acceptance

Armor For Sleep

TEN THE DANGEROUS SUMMER SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Ghosts

2. LA In A Cop Car

3. The Permanent Rain

4. Catholic Girls

5. Where I Want To Be

6. War Paint

7. Bring Me Back To Life

8. Northern Lights (acoustic version)

9. Coming Home

10. I Feel More Like Myself When I'm Losing It

SONG OF THE WEEK: 7-14-2024

SONG:  "Electro-Static Sweep"

ARTIST:  Laura Jane Grace

ALBUM:  "At War With The Silverfish" EP

YEAR:  2021

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Gainesville, Florida

YEARS ACTIVE:  1997 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Electro-Static Sweep" appears to be a song about running into an old friend, spending time and reminiscing about old times. I'm not sure if the song is happy, indifferent or filled with emptiness because of what life is in the present for the vocalist.

LAURA JANE GRACE DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2018 - Bought To Rot (Bloodshot Records) 

* (Laura Jane Grace & The Devouring Mothers release)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2020 - Stay Alive (Polyvinyl Records)

* (Laura Jane Grace solo release)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2024 - Hole In My Head (Polyvinyl Records)

* (Laura Jane Grace solo release)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON LAURA JANE GRACE:

Laura Jane Grace has been making music since the mid to late 90's, hailing from Gainesville, Florida. Of course, she is most well known as the vocalist/guitarist/songwriter for the punk band Against Me! With Against Me!, she released 7 full length studio albums along with a a slew of EP's, live albums and compilation albums over a 23 year period. She has said that Against Me! is on hiatus right now and have been since 2020. Laura Jane Grace's solo material first surfaced in 2008, before she transitioned and was still going by her birthname Tom Gabel. That was an EP titled "Heart Burns". She would support that EP by playing acoustic sets on the Revival Tour with Chuck Ragan and Tim Barry. In 2012, she announced she was going to transition to become a female and chose to be called Laura Jane Grace from that point on. In 2018, she formed a band called Laura Jane Grace & The Devouring Mothers and released the album "Bought To Rot". That band seemed to be a one off project as she would release her next album as a solo, 2020's "Stay Alive". She released the EP "At War With Silverfish" in 2021. Most recently, Laura Jane Grace released "Hole In My Head" in 2024. The title track is a banger! Could've easily made it on an Against Me! album!  I'm a huge Against Me! fan so obviously I'm gonna check out anything that Laura Jane Grace does. Her solo stuff isn't too far off what Against Me! does. Though it's a little less punk. She's definitely exploring different sounds and genres while keeping that punk foundation with her solo material. Her new album, "Hole In My Head", is an awesome record!  Maybe since Against Me! is on a hiatus right now, she feels comfortable creating a more punk album with her new solo project. With that being said, I hope Against Me! isn't done. They're just too f'n good a band to not continue. Hopefully, after Laura Jane Grace releases this new record and tours to support it, she can relight the fire under Against Me!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Against Me!

The Gaslight Anthem

The Menzingers

Alkaline Trio

Bad Astronaut

TEN LAURA JANE GRACE SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Hole In My Head

2. Anna Is A Stool Pigeon

3. Apocalypse Now (& Later) (w/ The Devouring Mothers)

4. The Swimming Pool Song

5. The Airplane Song (w/ The Devouring Mothers)

6. Random Hearts

7. The Hotel Song (w/ The Devouring Mothers)

8. Dysphoria Hoodie

9. Cuffing Season

10. Day Old Coffee

SONG OF THE WEEK: 7-7-2024

SONG:  "Recoil"

ARTIST:  The Flatliners

ALBUM:  "New Ruin"

YEAR:  2022

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

YEARS ACTIVE:  2002 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

Here's what The Flatliners vocalist Chris Cresswell had to say about "Recoil". "There’s something almost thrilling about a chest wound up so tight that each breath feels like you’re barreling over a speed bump. There is no control over when anxiety strikes, or who it can profoundly affect. In that moment, the body becomes a vessel for something that feels like it’s far too powerful to be contained. Like it’s within something’s grip that could make or break. When pushed to the edge, do you recoil or recover?"

THE FLATLINERS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2005 - Destroy To Create (Union Label Group

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2007 - The Great Awake (Fat Wreck Chords)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2010 - Cavalcade (Drive Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2013 - Dead Language (New Damage Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2015 - Division Of Spoils (Fat Wreck Chords)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2017 - Inviting Light (Rise Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2022 - New Ruin (Fat Wreck Chords)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON THE FLATLINERS:

The Flatliners are a Canadian band that got their start back in 2002. After putting out some demo's, the band dropped their debut full length album in 2005, titled "Destroy To Create". This album would be the band's only release to feature some ska elements in their sound. Beginning with their next release, 2007's "The Great Awake", The Flatliners sound would be more of a melodic, skate punk style. 2010's "Cavalcade" actually peaked at #54 on the Canadian music charts. Many see this as the album that made people take notice of The Flatliners. In 2013, the band put out another gem of an album, "Dead Language". 2015 saw the band put out a b-sides and rarities compilation called "Divisions Of Spoils", a fantastic collection! In 2017, "Inviting Light" was released and in 2022, the band reunited with legendary punk rock label, Fat Wreck Chords, to put out their most recent full length, "New Ruin". The Flatliners are an awesome band! I'm so glad they ditched the ska for a more straight forward approach to punk rock. It has served them well. These guys are a relentless touring band and they seem to put out an album every three to four years. The longest gap between albums for The Flatliners was five years between the last two releases and that was mostly because Flatliners' vocalist Chris Cresswell was playing with Hot Water Music for a a few years. I first got into these guys when their 2010 album "Cavalcade" came out. I still get pumped when I hear "Carry The Banner"! Great f'n song! I tend to call bands like The Flatliners "gruff" punk. The vocals are scratchy and the energy is great. I fell in love with this style and The Flatliners were a main reason, but also because of bands like Polar Bear Club, Red City Radio and Off With Their Heads. I really dig these bands!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Red City Radio

Dead To Me

A Wilhelm Scream

The Lawrence Arms

Banner Pilot

TEN THE FLATLINERS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Carry The Banner

2. Wynford Bridge

3. Birds Of England

4. Indoors

5. Resuscitation Of The Year

6. Performative Hours

7. Eulogy

8. Hang My Head

9. The Arousal Of Repair

10. Fred Got Slacks

SONG OF THE WEEK: 6-30-2024

SONG:  "High On 95"

ARTIST:  Tim Barry

ALBUM:  "Live 2018"

YEAR:  2020

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Richmond, Virginia

YEARS ACTIVE:  1990 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

Tim Barry says in the live version of the song that it's about leaving north Virginia and going to central Virginia. Like most Tim Barry songs, "High On 95" is filled with reflection and introspection. The studio version of the song can be found on Tim Barry's 2017 album "High On 95". 

TIM BARRY DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2006 - Rivanna Junction (Suburban Home Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2008 - Manchester (Suburban Home Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2010 - 28th & Stonewall (Suburban Home Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2012 - 40 Miler (Chunksaah Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2013 - Laurel St. Demo 2005 & Live At Munford Elementary (Chunksaah Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2014 - Raising Hell & Living Cheap:  Live In Richmond (Chunksaah Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2014 - Lost & Rootless (Chunksaah Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2017 - High On 95 (Chunksaah Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2019 - The Roads To Richmond (Chunksaah Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2022 - Spring Hill (Chunksaah Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON TIM BARRY:

Tim Barry began his musical journey as the lead singer of Richmond, VA punk band Avail back in 1990. Avail would continue to be a pillar in the hardcore punk scene up until 2007 when they broke up. From about 2004, Tim Barry began to focus on a solo career in an acoustic element. Barry's debut album would be "Rivanna Junction" in 2006. He followed that up with 2008's "Manchester". 2010's "28th & Stonewall" would be Barry's last album with Suburban Home Records. From this point on, he would put his music out through Chunksaah Records, a label owned by The Bouncing Souls. His first release through Chunksaah would be 2012's "40 Miler". 2014 saw Barry release "Lost & Rootless". Not one to rest, Tim Barry released "High On 95" in 2017, "The Roads To Richmond" in 2019 and his most recent release, "Spring Hill" in 2022. Tim Barry is a legend. A cult hero in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia for sure. I liked Avail but they weren't one of my favorite bands. I think Tim's solo material is utterly fantastic! Tim is a great storyteller and his lyrics are heartfelt and personal. He almost seems like he is a minimalist. He seems to treasure the things in life that are most important like family, friends and your environment. Very much like Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music, Tim Barry seems like one of the early leaders in the "punk rock frontman going acoustic" phase that happened quite a bit in the early 2000's till the present day. Tim Barry is one of the best at that craft as well. Listening to his songs makes me want to crack open a few beers and just hang with friends and family. He has that vibe big time. Tim Barry is an awesome dude!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Chuck Ragan

Dave Hause

Sundowner

The Gaslight Anthem

Brian Fallon

TEN TIM BARRY SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Avoiding Catatonic Surrender

2. No News From The North

3. Thing Of The Past

4. Dog Bumped

5. Idle Idylist

6. High On 95

7. Driver Pull

8. Fussin' Over Fate

9. This November

10. Cab #13

SONG OF THE WEEK: 6-23-2024

SONG:  "Circle Vista Blues"

ARTIST:  Joey Briggs

ALBUM:  self-released Bandcamp single

YEAR:  2017

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Los Angeles, California

YEARS ACTIVE:  2001 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Circle Vista Blues" appears to be a song about fucking up so bad in a relationship that you know you have no shot at a second chance. The vocalist understands he screwed up and he fully takes the blame, but he also knows there's no chance to win her back.

JOEY BRIGGS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2011 - The Traveling Salesman, Pariah, Me (self-released)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2022 - Disconnected (This Is LA Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON JOEY BRIGGS:

Los Angeles' own Joey Briggs is most well known as the frontman for the punk band The Briggs. He got his start on the music scene back in 2001. With his band The Briggs, he has released four full length studio albums as well as three EP's. The most recent The Briggs release was a self-titled EP in 2015. The Briggs also released a live DVD in 2022 called "Gridlocked:  On Tour With The Briggs. Joey Briggs released his first solo material in 2010, an EP titled "Politics, Touring And Self-Loathing". He dropped his first solo full length album in 2011 called "The Traveling Salesman, Pariah, Me". The track on that album called "Suburban Kid" is one of my all time favorite songs to date! I love that tune! Joey Briggs released another solo EP in 2013 called "Joey Briggs" and his most recent release was a full length album called "Disconnected" which dropped in 2022. The Briggs had a hardcore punk/Celtic punk vibe about them while Joey's solo stuff is mostly acoustic in style. Joey Briggs has also been fronting a hardcore punk band called Vintage War since 2022. I'm not quite sure what Joey's main focus is at this point because, while The Briggs have played shows recently, they haven't dropped new material since 2015 so perhaps this new band Vintage War is what is on his front burner at the moment. Either way, I enjoy all of Joey Briggs' projects. Also check out his Bandcamp page cuz he's released a slew of stand alone singles on there. 

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Brendan Kelly

Laura Jane Grace

Blacklist Royals

Crazy Arm

Chewing On Tinfoil

TEN JOEY BRIGGS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Suburban Kid

2. The Sun Will Shine

3. Concrete River

4. A Tiger's Stripes

5. The Blame

6. Left For Dead

7. Vegans And Anarchists

8. Walk Away

9. Classify

10. Talking With The Wind

SONG OF THE WEEK: 6-16-2024

SONG:  "What We Leave Behind"

ARTIST:  Chuck Ragan

ALBUM:  "The Flame In The Flood"

YEAR:  2016

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Gainesville, Florida

YEARS ACTIVE:  1993 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

Here's what Chuck Ragan himself had to say about "What We Leave Behind". "I wrote this when my son was still in a crib. Having children is both absolutely glorious and terrifying, all at the same time. There's a part of me that feels very lucky to have such a beautiful person in our life, but at the same time, I almost have some guilt that I've brought this child into a world that can be extremely ugly and brutal. The song is trying to explain to this young one that all we are is what we leave behind, and that we don't need to put too much importance on material things or on status or wealth - that what seems to give us fulfilmentis just love and togetherness with the people that we connect with."

 

CHUCK RAGAN DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2007 - Feast Or Famine (SideOneDummy Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2007 - Los Feliz (SideOneDummy Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2008 - Bristle Ridge (w/ Ausin Lucas) (Ten Four Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2008 - Chuck Plays Frankfurt (Yuma River Conspiracy Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2009 - Gold Country (SideOneDummy Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2009 - Live At Hafenkneipe Zurich (Leech Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2011 - Covering Ground (SideOneDummy Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2011 - Life At The Cafe Du Nord (Ten Four Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2013 - Live At Skaters Palace (Uncle M Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2014 - Till Midnight (SideOneDummy Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2016 - The Winter Haul Live (w/ The Camaraderie) (Ten Four Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2016 - The Flame In The Flood (Ten Four Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON CHUCK RAGAN:

Chuck Ragan, the pride of Gainesville, Florida, got his start in the music scene back in 1993. Of course, he is most known for being in the influential punk outfit Hot Water Music. With Hot Water Music, Ragan and the boys have released 9 studio albums, 4 compilations, a few live albums and a slew of splits and EP's. In 2005, Ragan stepped away from Hot Water Music and the remaining three members went on to form the short lived The Draft. Ragan really wanted to focus on a solo, acoustic project at that time. He released his debut solo album in 2007, called "Feast Or Famine". Shortly after that release, he dropped "Los Feliz" in the same year. In 2008, he released an album with folk artist Austin Lucas called "Bristle Ridge". It was around this time that Ragan had a vision of a folk/Americana type tour called "The Revival Tour". It would feature many punk rock singers from major groups performing stripped down sets and also had most of the artists jamming together throughout the show. The tours were pretty consistent from 2008 till 2012 and they featured Ragan, Laura Jane Grace (Against Me!), Dave Hause (The Loved Ones), Tim Barry (Avail), Brian Fallon (The Gaslight Anthem) and Dan Andriano (Alkaline Trio) to name a few. In 2009, Ragan released "Gold Country". 2011 saw him drop "Covering Ground" which features a duet with Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem on the song "Meet You In The Middle", which is a fantastic song! 2014 saw Ragan complete his fifth studio album for punk label SideOneDummy Records when he released "Till Midnight". This was his first solo album to feature a full band, which he named The Camaraderie. Ragan's most recent release was 2016's "The Flame In The Flood" which is actually the soundtrack for a video game. Though Chuck Ragan left Hot Water Music in 2005, he quickly reunited with them in 2007 and to this day they still are releasing new music and touring. I would say that Chuck Ragan was one of the first punk rock singers to start playing solo acoustic shows. It kinda has been a revolution of sorts. Tim Barry (Avail) has embarked on a long solo career. Dave Hause (The Loved Ones) has pretty much been focusing all his time on his solo stuff. You also had Tony Sly (No Use For A Name) and Joey Cape (Lagwagon) coming out with solo records. Mike Ness (Social Distortion), Russ Rankin (Good Riddance), Jim Lindberg (Pennywise), Greg Graffin (Bad Religion), Vinnie Caruana (The Movielife) and Kevin Seconds (7 Seconds) have also all come out with solo material and have done acoustic tours. I'm not sure if Ragan was the first to do it, but he's definitely a pioneer of it. His stuff with Hot Water Music is awesome and they are an extremely influential band but his solo stuff really shines a light on how f'n good he is as a songwriter and singer. I was really blown away by his talents. I love whatever he does. I get excited when new Hot Water comes out and I get equally excited when he puts out new solo material. I know Brian Fallon is from Jersey, but Chuck Ragan might be punk rock's Bruce Springsteen!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Dave Hause

The Gaslight Anthem

Brian Fallon

Tim Barry

Sundowner

TEN CHUCK RAGAN SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Meet You In The Middle

2. Something May Catch Fire

3. Symmetry

4. For Broken Ears

5. Nomad By Fate

6. Non Typical

7. For Goodness Sake

8. The Boat

9. The Flame In The Flood

10. Bloody Shells (w/ Austin Lucas)