Features

Stephen Pedersen pursued law school and watched with mixed feelings as his close friends in the Omaha music scene gained prominence and acclaim. Now, with an admirable new album and band in tow, he’s trading legal briefings for basement rocking, hoping to put CRITERIA on the map. Story: Kyle Ryan In one sense, Criteria […]

GOGOL BORDELLO were once the trophy band for Ukrainian nationals and bohemian NYC art freaks. Now they’re ready to crash into America’s punk-rock scene. Story: Jason Pettigrew One of the hard and fast rules of the Vans Warped Tour is that a band’s set time may not exceed 30 minutes-and for good reason: When […]

They went on tour repeatedly, sleeping on the floors of sympathetic fans and watching their peers grace the cover of AP. But after making a decidedly different album, initiating a massive personal housecleaning and securing the backing of a major label, only one question remains: Will there be any way of stopping VAUX? Story: Jonah […]

Sure, their two-year jump from Southern California obscurity to Taste Of Chaos and multiple Vans Warped Tour slots may seem like an easy ride. But for BLEED THE DREAM-singer Brandon Thomas, guitarist Dave Aguilera, drummer Scott Gottlieb and bassist Keith Thompson-it’s been a lesson in hard knocks, not the least of which has been the […]

Yeah, they’ve got major-label executives by the short hairs; sure, they’re the stars of a big new MTV show (A Very Special Special); and, okay, they did once get a personal invite from Metallica to hit the road. But for CKY, whose fourth album hits stores at the end of this month, none of this […]

For their new album, MAE go where few pop-friendly rock bands dare to tread: a place where substance, emotion, beauty and darkness are not mutually exclusive. Julie Seabaugh dives in with all her senses, and discovers a few new ones along the way. Catchy choruses and gigantic hooks are all well and good if […]

Florida anarcho-punks AGAINST ME! have come a long way from beating on buckets and playing shouty, thrashy, minute-long songs in basements and house parties across the U.S. They’re hoping their fans will come with them, too. Story: Jason Pettigrew If it weren’t for cell phones, Tom Gabel would be a social fugitive. Though he’s […]

No, Aaron doesn’t have leukemia, Judas isn’t leaving and Alternative Press doesn’t hate them. But before they became chatroom-gossip fodder, MATCHBOOK ROMANCE surfed waves of indifference and weeks of algebraic driving regimens on tour, before being bestowed the blessings of a punk-mafia godfather. Story: Julie Seabaugh Matchbook Romance-singer/guitarist Andrew Jordan, guitarist Ryan “Judas” DePaolo, […]

While no one was listening, SLINT made some of the most important, influential records of the late ’80s and early ’90s. Then, the band simply disappeared-until a surprise new string of reunion gigs came to turn fans’ expectations on their heads. AP pieces together Slint’s short, strange story with the band and those who helped […]

COPELAND’s sturdy belief systems protect them from making sacrifices to both their art and their lives. Story: Julie Seabaugh Early this past February, emo-rock visionaries Mae and ecclesiastical pop-punks Relient K were playing a show at Orlando, Florida’s Social Pavilion. During downtime, some crowd members heard something familiar playing over the sound system. It […]

Forget that they’re finally getting to release their anticipated second album after three years of record-label limbo; THE STARTING LINE are still getting their heads around the idea that people realize they’ve matured. Interview: Aaron Burgess If you’ve been reading AP closely since October of 2003, when THE STARTING LINE made their debut on […]

Three years after the breakout success of their debut album, the boys of FINCH aren’t fresh-faced teens anymore. Like it or not, they’ve matured-and they have the battle scars to prove it. STORY: Scott Heisel “Man, my neck is really fucked up right now.” These are the first words out of Finch guitarist Randy […]

MxPx survived 13 years’ worth of ups and downs, as well as the major-label meat grinder. But before they created their new album, they first had to be saved from their biggest obstacle: themselves. Story: Megan Seling Let’s not start at the beginning. Because with a story like this, to start at the beginning […]

If you want to play Six Degrees Of MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK, you’d have to invoke ancient ’80s radio-rockers, a drunken merch guy and pop-punk royalty. If you want to have a good time, you’ll need to get their new disc. STORY: Leslie Simon If it were up to us, Motion City Soundtrack would be […]

It seemed like THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS came outta nowhere, and then turned around and went right back into hiding. Turns out it took them a little longer to find the rock ’n’ roll. INTERVIEW: Leslie Simon After the whirlwind surrounding your debut, what was the objective when you first started writing? TYSON RITTER: At […]

The first time you ever heard THE ACADEMY IS… was probably when they were opening for your favorite band, but rest assured, their rise to fame has been anything but calculated. Story: Jonah Bayer In the course of his hour-long interview with AP, William Beckett will be interrupted three times. First, by the sound […]

If member shifts, misdirected misogyny claims and a fanatic but fickle fanbase can’t stop BOYS NIGHT OUT, do you really think a highly ambitious, elaborately gruesome concept album can? Yeah, we didn’t think so, either. STORY: Scott Heisel “Everyone’s gonna hate the new record.” You might remember those words, spoken by Boys Night […]

In a relatively short period of time, FALL OUT BOY have earned the respect of the Warped Tour faithful, as well as old-school hardcore types. And while they’ve definitely worked hard to enjoy the success they’re having, they’re just now learning to come clean about things. Story: Leslie Simon If you don’t have a Zen […]

OK GO are ambassadors of a Chicago music scene that likes its pop music punk-free. But don’t be fooled by the band’s catchy melodies, good looks and self-deprecating humor: Their dark side is far more subtle and insidious. Interview: Jason Pettigrew They're handsome but not vacuous. They wear suits onstage, but they're not tight-assed. […]