Another two weeks, another update from the Runner Up Bloodsucking Record Company command center.

SUNDIALS and SPRAYNARD just wrapped up their weekend jaunt, and so far the only casualties being reported are a van that had a missing wheel or something. I don’t know, no one tells me about these things! I do know, however, that the weekend started with a show in Philadelphia to benefit Project Safe, which raised tons of cold, hard cash for the well-deserving organization. Kudos to our best buddy Will for stepping up to the plate and making that happen. Booking shows is a hard and thankless job! So THANKS WILL! But yeah, apparently that show ripped.

Aside from that, not a whole lot going on. I think everyone is just kind of mellowing out before they get ready to head to Fest. I am very excited. The lineup this year is pretty unreal, and I anticipate seeing lots of familiar faces from all over that I am constantly missing. If you get into Florida early, make sure you come and hang with all sorts of Runner Up loyal pawns at the Tampa pre-Fest show.

I have been listening to only Bomb The Music Industry! lately. I like the new record a lot now. That’s pretty much it for this week. Kind of quiet. Lots of shows though, check the tour section for all the juicy details. Oi! Oi! Oi!

Hello, punks of the world! I am going to do this a day early for one reason, and one reason early – to shout from the rooftops that I have heard the demos of the upcoming HEADIES LP and they are so, so good. Like, really good. To me, this band is the yin to so much yang happening in the scene right now. It’s the kind of straight pop madness that one might expect from a band that has a familial connections with PLOW UNITED. Meta-pop is going to be a great record, and I’m going to make sure that everyone knows it. If you are into the aforementioned band, THE RAMONES, THE TEEN IDOLS, SICKO, or THE LILLINGTONS, you’ll be tickled. It rules.  Here is a fun piece of HEADIES trivia: drummer Todd Purse (aka St. Todd Purse of Wilmington, patron saint of tax-free shopping) bares a literally terrifying resemblance to the late Bob Ross. If you don’t know who that is, you didn’t skip enough school.

SPRAYNARD’s recent big night with KID DYNAMITE ruled, as per the expectations of the entire world. Surprisingly not a lot of video has surfaced yet. Probably because everyone was too busy kicking holes in walls and ripping their own limbs off during the breakdown of News at 11. That’s my excuse at least. But for real, the night was great and a gathering of literally every cool person I’ve ever known in my life. Surreal in the best of ways.

BEARINGS is playing a show as I write this. If I post this within the next minute, and you leave as soon as you read this sentence, you might be able to catch their set. They’ve been cooking up some new jams and getting back into the groove of things. Drummer Brian Porbansky will soon be among the few and proud PUNK ROCK PHDs in the world. Hopefully once that is in the bag this band will play more shows. A guy can dream.

Get ready for another rare surfacing of the deep-sea creature known only as SHOOK ONES, who will be playing a one-off at Fest in just a few weeks. I know I will be front and center, shooting myself out of an actual cannon during Please Read. Can’t wait! [EDIT: Shook Ones aren't playing anymore! Sad but for honorable reasons!]

SELF DEFENSE (formerly END OF A YEAR SELF DEFENSE FAMILY) is still nearly impossible to keep up with. I direct your attention to their website. That’s all I got.

If you haven’t take the time to check out HIGHTIDE HOTEL’s “Nothing Was Missing, Except Me” LP and LIGHTEN UP’s “Where Fun Goes to Die” 7″. These are our two most recent releases, and both simply shred in completely different ways. I actually listened to Hightide’s entire discography the other day and was reminded that Dave Samson is the most eloquent songwriter doing their thing right now. I’ll put the farm on that one. Word has it that a second LP might even be pre-heating right now. NICE.

Hmmmm… so what else? I am in California right now to give my time (that would otherwise be spent playing Drumscape on the Santa Cruz boardwalk) to the almighty 924 Gilman project. Needless to say, I’m smitten. I am living in my normal burrito-laden skateboard fantasy-land, except now I get to be a part of the coolest organization on the planet. Life is so cool and weird. But that said, mailorder might be a little irregular, since I’m out here and all. I do have one of my cronies in West Chester step up to the plate, so you will get your stuff! Jim rules!

Love,
Sean