We all have those days. When the world is simply wearing us thin and we just want to go buck wild on it. While the law and common decency won't allow for such action, The Blood Brothers have managed to create a sound to release said frustration through. Formed in 1997 in Seattle, Washington, duel vocalist Jordan Billie and Johnny Whitney were low end-high end audible sirens backed by the the ferocious guitar work of Cody Votolato and the rhythmic groove of Morgan Henderson and Mark Gajadhar. After...[read more]

What's the point of slick production if there is no heart? Mineral's only two releases don't sound like they were made to the best audio quality, but the passion of both their records boils over the surface of vocalist/guitarist Chris Simpson's audible desperation. Drummer Gabriel Wiley, guitarist Scott McCarver and bassist Jeremy Gomez complete the early influence that was the Texas four piece of an early heart on the sleeve of many. 1997's debut, The Power of Failing, is an early indie/emo staple with the likes of Diary and Dear You. The entire album, lyrically...[read more]

Teetering the lines of what was punk and what was post, The Jesus Lizard came on the scene in 1989, releasing Pure, their debut EP through Touch and Go Records. In 1991, the band released Goat, which is claimed by many critics to be their seminal release. Daunting guitar riffs mixed with a bold rhythm section, the vocals of David Yow overlapped the music with a frightful sermon that gave the band a cold, yet driving sound. Their next two albums, 1992's Liar and 1994's Down would be their...[read more]

It's cold, windy, pouring rain and once this storm front passes through, it will drop to winter coats and chilly nights. I've decided to leave my bed only to take out my copy of American Football's self-titled and let its tracks flood my small apartment while I work a bit. In Urbana, Illinois, guitarist/bassist/vocalist Mike Kinsella, guitarist Steve Holmes and drummer Steve Lamos painted a picture that was worthy of gracing the roof of a chapel, landscaped in horns, easy drumming and guitar lines that carried the...[read more]

I remember getting a demo tape from a friend in high school. I used to cover "Lost It" and "He Said" in a ska cover band I was in my senior year of high school. I can't pop in Heads Are Gonna Roll without thinking of a time when life was innocent and fun, before it was violently shoved into the responsibilities of college and beyond. The Hippos not only hold a place in my music catalog, they are forever cemented in a great time in my life. Hailing from Los Angeles, the six piece (with only a minor line-up change for...[read more]

Supposedly Norma Jean ripped them off. Fans can't stop yelling their name out at Minus the Bear, Narrows, and (case in point, last night) These Arms Are Snakes shows. Everyone and your mom wants to see at least one more show from them. Botch are held on the high end by metal heads, post-hardcore nuts and mathematicians/digital fiends. Born in the depths of Tacoma, Washington (not Seattle) bassist Brian Cook, drummer Tim Latona, vocalist Dave Verellen, and guitarist Dave Knudson brought a ferocious sound that was both pummeling...[read more]

There's something haunting about Engine Down's music that crawls under the skin, and only heightens the senses enough to be carried along and never blown away from each intricate detail. In 1996, four men emerged from Richmond, Virginia with a vibrant sound: vocalist/guitarist Keeley Davis, drummer Cornbread Compton, bassist Jason Wood and guitarist Jonathan Fuller. After their first two albums, Engine Down crafted Demure, a 45-minute sonic ride of rhythmic bites backed by superb guitar aftertaste. The band...[read more]

Before the “emo” tag became a part of popular culture, The Get Up Kids were making the Midwest proud with their unique rock ‘n’ roll sound. Whether they got crowds jumping along to the fast-paced confessional “Coming Clean” or kept them entranced with the piano driven “I’ll Catch You”, The Get Up Kids proved themselves as a band comfortable in creating pop hits, unabashed ballads, or anything inbetween. Though there is not enough space here to laud every individual effort that made the band special, a big part of their success...[read more]

Jawbox formed in 1989 and released most of their recorded output on the venerable Dischord label until disbanding in 1997. However, the band did release two records on major label Atlantic Records, being one of only two bands to ever leave Dischord for a major label. While this angered some fans at the time, the band never altered their sound and received considerable accolades from critics. While all their records were great, For Your Own Special Sweetheart is the record that transformed me into a Jawbox fanatic....[read more]

Despite only surviving a criminally-short four years, Bear vs. Shark left an indelible mark on the scene. The band's music was filled with tension-building verses that exploded into visceral choruses, and their rare knack for making chaos so instantly memorable was remarkable, rivaling punk pioneers like Mission of Burma and Fugazi, the latter of which was an obvious influence. Led by the gravelly-voiced Marc Paffi, Bear vs. Shark formed in 2001 (perhaps fittingly the year kindred spirits At the Drive-In called it quits)...[read more]

The Promise Ring were one of the bands most instrumental to emo's rise to prominence. The band burst onto the scene in 1996 with their powerful debut 30 Degrees Everywhere and cemented their legacy with the genre-defining Nothing Feels Good. They would go on to explore poppier territory on Very Emergency, and by their 2002 swan-song Wood/Water, there was little trace of the angst and knotty angularity that characterized their earlier recordings. One constant throughout their too-short...[read more]

As one of Drive-Thru Records' initial signees, Allister had the distinction of being one of the first in a long line of bands that assisted in introducing the new era of the indie-label craze that SoCal pop-punk helped create (we all remember Epitaph's early success). Their debut, Dead Ends and Girlfriends, is a classically-themed pop-punk album that paid homage to both pioneers like Descendants and modern-day prophets like blink-182. Before their 2007 demise, Allister continued to grow as snot-nosed pop-punkers who loved to...[read more]

Writing about Champaign-Urbana based group Braid is a difficult thing to do since the band single handedly changed the way I looked at music and the sort of music I was interested in. I wrote about the significance of their music in an earlier article for Absolutepunk, which you can read here. Braid was around from roughly 1993-1999 and then reunited for a reunion tour in 2004. The band was notorious for touring heavily and their live shows were always...[read more]

In a day when crunkcore and neon seems to be far too commonplace, pausing to remember Seattle, WA's Vendetta Red seems utterly necessary. Emerging onto the mainstream music scene with their impressive, rage-filled major-label breakthrough Between the Never and Now, Vendetta Red managed to mix melody and radio-friendly choruses with daunting sonic heights. Lead singer Zach Davidson's captivating vocals and clever wordplay were the perfect complement to snarly guitars and bombastic drums. Though it's been six...[read more]

Elliott was a band from the mid 90’s until roughly 2003. The band released three albums over the duration of their career starting with the raw and aggressive U.S. Songs, which caused them to be lumped into the mid-90’s emo movement and compared to the other bands of the genre. The band’s second album, False Cathedrals, was a transformation of the band’s sound as they dropped the more straightforward approach of U.S. Songs and began crafting more lushly arranged songs that left listeners in awe of...[read more]

Hailing from the almighty Atlanta, the Marvelous 3 (fronted by mega-producer Butch Walker) stormed out the gates and brought massive arena-sized hooks to the masses. Scoring a popular hit in 1999 with "Freak of the Week," from their major-label debut, Hey! Album, the band became a leader in the powerpop-punk craze in the late '90's. If you were a fan when they were big, come and share your memories in the replies. If you have yet to hear some of the catchiest melodies likely to ever cross your eardrums, come take a listen.

If only life could be more like the summer of 2001. Remember that? We weren't at war, the first Shrek movie was released and Lawrence, KS The Anniversary had just released their shimmering sophomore album Your Majesty. Whether it was the Midwestern work ethic or simply an innate ability to write solid songs, The Anniversary possessed a Byrdsian quality that blended well with the DIY emo ethic. Led by the one-two punch Josh Berwanger and Justin Roelefs, the Jayhawk quintet were everything that was great about...[read more]

How many of you miss Anadivine? The former Militia Groupers were one of the best bands at blending pop sensibilities with progressive and technical musicianship. Zoo has aged gracefully over the years, and still remains as a near-perfect bridge between accessible and intricate. If you've never heard of these guys before...now is the time. If you were a fan back when they were making music -- we'd love to hear from you as you break out the tunes and discuss the band in the replies.

When I was in high school, Further Seems Forever was one of the bands that shaped my musical spectrum. Three albums, three different lead singers, three different approaches. 2001’s The Moon Is Down featured Chris Carrabba before he was the crooner of Dashboard Confessional, while 2003’s How To Start The Fire put Jason Gleason’s fiery vocals on display. This band meant a lot to me, and now is a great time to discover the different styles of FSF. If you were a big fan, we’d love to hear your recollections...[read more]

I decided to pick a little known pop-punk band for this week's weekly nostalgia. Not sure how many of you are going to remember these guys -- but just maybe you'll discover something new. Do you remember Unsung Zeros? Or maybe I'm wrong and everyone remembers rocking out to this band back when everyone wanted to sing like Jordan Pundik. If you've never heard of these guys before ... now is the time. If you were a fan back when they were making music -- we'd love to hear from you as you break out the tunes and discuss...[read more]

What ever happened to Sugarcult? To be honest, they were one of the better pop-rock bands. And now as the weather starts to turn ... it's been the perfect time to break them back into my playlist. I almost forgot how well this band could write a pop song. They've sort of fallen off the face of the earth though. If you've never heard of these guys before ... now is the time. If you were a fan back when they were (are?) making music -- we'd love to hear from you as you break out the tunes and discuss the band in the replies.

How many of you miss Taking Back Sunday? You know, back in the day when they were touring with Brand New, had just released their opus: Tell All Your Friends, and were kings of the scene. There was something special about that era of music - and I think we're all a little sad to see it go. If you've never heard of these guys before ... now is the time. If you were a fan back when they were making music -- we'd love to hear from you as you break out the tunes and discuss the band in the replies.

How many of you miss Northstar? It seems that Pollyanna remains a cult classic around here -- and it's extremely rare for a band to go out while perceived to be at the top of their game. Dark yet catchy, moody and anthematic - this band had all the makings of "the next big thing." It hasn't been that long since the band's departure, but we just had to highlight them anyway. They were just that good. If you've never heard of these guys before ... now is the time. If you were a fan back when they were making music --...[read more]

Home Grown may go down as the most accessible pop-punk band that never hit the big time. When they released Act Your Age - I thought they were destined for magazine covers. And that album turned out to be just the beginning when they followed it up with Kings of Pop and rightly claimed their throne. This was the band that got this sound perfect. Fun, energetic, carefree - full of harmony - yet never taking themselves seriously. They don't seem to make pop-punk like that anymore. If you've never heard of these guys...[read more]

The Juliana Theory seemed to be a band before their time. They never quite crossed into the realm of mainstream - but always had a loyal following. Their name is brought up almost in every "weekly nostalgia" post -- so it is only fitting they finally get their very own. If you've never heard of these guys before ... now is the time. If you were a fan back when they were making music -- we'd love to hear from you as you break out the tunes and discuss the band in the replies. Respect your elders: check the replies.

With this week's announcement it is only reasonable that we highlight Blink 182 as this week's "nostalgia" feature. The band that started this website. The boys are back - but not everyone grew up with Atticus t-shirts and dick and fart jokes ... so a whole new generation is about to be introduced to the band. If you've never taken the time to get to know this band ... now is the time. If you were a fan back when they were making music -- we'd love to hear from you as you break out the tunes and discuss the band in the replies....[read more]

Does any one remember Student Rick? They only released one EP, and then an album, before disbanding. However, the album they released remains a pop-punk gem that just screams "late 90's." Pretty sure I first heard of the band because their song was named incorrectly on Napster. Now that's nostalgia for you. If you've never taken the time to get to know this band ... now is the time. If you were a fan back when they were making music -- we'd love to hear from you as...[read more]

Name Taken may have been one of the best bands to never see the success many felt they deserved. They released a few EPs, built buzz, recorded the infamous "unreleased album," and then unleashed the critically acclaimed Hold On. If you've never heard of these guys before ... now is the time. If you were a fan back when they were making music -- we'd love to hear from you as you break out the tunes and discuss the band in the replies. Respect your elders: check the replies.

I remember the day I discovered Riverfenix - I thought I was the only kid on the planet that had ever heard of the band. I knew I was the only one in my small town. The band changed their name to FenixTX and subsequently dominated my ears, let alone pretty much anyone that was introduced to them. Catchy, melodic, funny ... they were soon on the tip of every Blink182 fan's tongue and had kids putting "TX" behind their screen names as quickly as exclamation points made the rounds a few years back. If you've never heard of...[read more]