Last week in Tucson, Arizona, Jared Loughner opened fire with a semi-automatic on a crowd of people at a political event. A previous classmate of Loughner later came out stating that Jared at a time listened to political punk band Anti-Flag whose lyrics inspired the name of the site you’re currently on. Alternative Press shared an exlusive interview with lead singer Justin Sane who claims that this act of violence is far from what Anti-Flag stand for.

Were you aware of the news when the incident happened?
Yeah, I saw it on the evening news. It was very moving and very chilling. I’m not ashamed to admit I actually teared up watching the news report. It was pretty bad.

When did you first hear your name being pulled into the story?
My sister called me that night. I was driving home around 11 p.m., and she informed me that a former classmate of the shooter had reportedly said something about Anti-Flag. Obviously, it was a real surprise because Anti-Flag are this band that for over a decade have been committed to Read More

Stereo Skyline broke out of the underground music scene with the hit Heartbeat, written when lead singer Kevin Bard was only 15. The single was rerecorded for the July 20th release of their album, Stuck on Repeat which hit #2 on the iTunes Top Alternative chart within a few hours of its release. This past February, they were featured on the Alternative Press 100 Bands You Need To Know list, then spent the beginning of the summer on the Bamboozle Roadshow alongside acts such as Forever the Sickest Kids, All Time Low, The Ready Set, and LMFAO. Until the end of August, Kevin, Brian Maddox, Clayton Johnson, & Rob Michelson will be hitting the roads with The Audition, Cash Cash, The Downtown Fiction, and Cady Groves on their headlining journey labeled “The Stuck on Repeat Tour”. Stereo Skyline is quickly Read More

On a desperate search for a pen, I asked my assistant Anne to ask the woman behind her for one. The end result was her receiving a lecture in the middle of McDonald’s. Our second attempt to locate a writing utensil was going to be placed onto the man in Ray-Ban’s making his way to the restaurant. Upon being in the establishment for less than five minutes, fans immediately recognize him and proceed to follow him back to the venue next door upon his leaving. This man would later turn out to be Nick Santino, Massachusetts native and frontman of A Rocket to the Moon. Founded in 2006, the band was later joined by Eric Halvorsen on bass, Justin Richards on guitar, and drummer Andrew Cook. You can catch them this fall on tour with Hanson on the Shout it Out Tour. This past spring they were on tour with Motion City Soundtrack, fun., and Sing It Loud. Apologies to Eric Read More

”This world has lots to offer, but in time it will go dark, & if this love is what we see it is, I’m sure we will go far, & with a girl as sweet as you, there’s not much else I can do but fall for you.” -Christofer Drew

There is a tour bus outside of Milwaukee’s famous Rave Club, outside it are teenage girls, all sporting their homemade shirts professing their love for Never Shout Never. Security guards are peeved, telling them they’re too close, and three feet away are four fans on their hands and knees, drawing a name in chalk around his traveling home. We venture onto the bus into the back and are greeted by the 19 year old who has purloined the hearts of millions of people besides the ones swarming around the venue. It is as if everyone in the English speaking language now knows of his existence. From his lack of shoes, ukulele tunes, and his message of spreading love and appreciation of nature, Christofer Drew has made the journey from his room in Joplin, Missouri, to the stages of nearly every state in the country. The first I heard of him was when I was in the eighth grade, still swooning over his Myspace picture. Three years later, I’m sitting on his couch, inhaling his secondhand smoke. Singing something I’ve never heard before and playing an acoustic, he lights a cigarette just as the door to the room we’re in closes. Humble and sure of where he’s going along with what he believes, upon reading his lyrics and speaking to him in person, it is no wonder why fans fall at the site of him.

A while back I went to a show at a local venue.  It was a talent show full of junior high and high school students.  After finishing a mildly embarrassing performance, a girl by the name of Devin Gackle took the stage. She immediately won the crowd over with her humor before she even started playing.  And they only grew more interested as the song went on.  She ended up winning the contest that night.  At just a junior in high school, singer/songwriter Devin Gackle, is someone you want to know.  Her lyrics are deep and heartfelt and she ties them together with soothing strums of her acoustic guitar.  I am very excited to present our interview with this star on the rise.  Click Here for a video of Devin playing her song “Ruins.”

1. When did you start singing and playing the guitar?
I’ve been singing for about as long as I can remember, and started to pick up the guitar in 6th/7th grade, my dad taught me some and then I taught myself the rest. I’ve always been a Read More

1) What do you think of music labels sometimes signing contracts with seemingly untalented musicians, and good bands staying underground?
I think it’s a pretty good example of how music is becoming more of a business, and less of an privilege. I know people that make music, because they just want to be in bands. Usually labels sign these kinds of artists, because of the 12-14 year old fan base, that doesn’t have much musical knowledge. And as for the underground part, I think it’s kind of cool, but I really wish some artists I knew got the attention they deserve.

2) What are some things you wish fans would stop doing? Are there any things you’d like them to start?
I can honestly say, I wish our fans would stop being so damn awesome, it makes me realize how un-rad I am. But in all seriousness, nothing really, I wouldn’t change a thing, they have been really supportive and hands on, and we appreciate it.

3) Do you enjoy playing the shows in people’s basements with only 11 people in attendance?
Those are the best shows to play, I used to play at the internet cafe in Red Bank, New Jersey, and seriously Read More

All the way from Belgium five piece rock band, Palomine is doing one of the more interesting things ever seen leading up to an album release. Although “Attention Alpha” (their newest album) is finished, it will not be released until the band receives a video message from one person in every country of the world saying “my name is…and I listen to Palomine,” In their native tongue. The most interesting of the videos will be put together to help form the music video for the single “Never be the Same.” Those who send in video messages will receive a digital download of the album before it is officially released. The album is similar to Kings of Leon but has a sound of its own. This project will hopefully be finished in January or February of 2010. I was given the opportunity to exchange a series of emails with Palomine bassist, Levi Lenaerts and the following is our interview regarding the band and their unique project.

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This band has practically exploded over the year. Now with over two million plays, they’re tracing about the entire continental U.S. adding on to their seemingly endless and devoted fanbase. It’s a wonder to everyone how they aren’t yet under a major label and dominating the cover of Alternative Press. But for now they’re going to play a few major dates of this summer’s Warped in the middle of their tour with Stephen Jerzak, Chase Coy, & Romance on a Rocketship. Their essential album, which no SmartPunk user is complete without, titled Honestly, is now being followed by sophomore EP, Emotion, available August 18th. Released from that EP tomorrow is “What Would You Say”, featuring Chicago dweller Tom Higgenson who will never be forgotten as the genius who brought you Hey There Delilah. Breathe Electric’s Grant Harris, Jeff, Carter, Jake, and a man who is frequently mentioned on this page, Vince Pierri, are all headed to your town any day now, but will never stray too far away from their home residing in cornfield covered Lake County. Just recently, I ran into Jeff Geisser (synth player of Breathe Electric) at a small show for Goodbye Gravity (formerly War Against Reality). He was wondering why I never uploaded the video we took almost a year ago. The last time I saw this man it was almost eleven months ago, he had no shirt on, was sporting a full-on beard, and we were in a church. For the longest time, no one has bothered to Read More

“Fans are the main thing that keep us doing what we do. Touring
can break you down at times, but fans make it worthwhile.”

What do you think of bands that don’t communicate with their fans ?
I think communicating with fans is one of the most important factors to drawing kids to a show and keeping their loyalty. Bands that don’t maintain that connection with fans are probably going to lose a lot because fans are like our fuel. They keep us going. They always give so we always give back. Without that relationship, being in a band wouldn’t be as fun.

The first thoughts running through your mind right when you’re about to go on ?
Greg: I am always pumped up to play. Of course, I am always thinking about playing perfect and rocking out really hard. But mostly I’m just thinking about having a good time.

Anissa & Alexia, what are the most annoying things that the boys always do on tour ?
The guys in the band aren’t annoying at all! I think we all have our own silly habits like leaving clothes everywhere, chewing too obnoxiously, farting too Read More

We were asked (and happily accepted) an interview. With an artist and in all honesty, I had (and still have) NO idea what he looks like. But his music makes up for that dilemma. Hellogoodbye had a love child with Bring Me The Horizon and created So Long Secrets. Enjoy ~

-What was the reason you decided to start pursuing music?
1. I suppose the reason I got into doing the music I do is probably Trent Reznor/Nine Inch Nails. When I first heard the “Broken” EP, I said to myself THAT is what I want to do right there.

-Story behind the name ”So Long Secrets”?
2. So Long Secrets was actually a line in a poem I wrote a while ago called “Machine Language” about the complete and global connection (and thus loss of privacy) that the Internet brings to the World. “Goodbye privacy, so long secrets.”

-Favorite thing a fan has said or done?
3. I have this one quoted on the top of my Myspace page actually “I liked your music, it made my soul dance.” That made my day.

-If you weren’t doing SLS, what would you be doing?
4. Well, before this I actually wrote a book of poetry and had it published, but that was never a full time thing. I guess I would be doing what I’m doing right now, and that is searching out a way to make my voice heard among the masses and make money while I’m doing it. Hahaha.

”I’d love to leave this world a little better than before, give up all I have so you can have a little more, I’d love to burn my clothes and finally become poor, but I guess that’s not my style,”–Vince Pierri

There’s a man in a grey shirt, who looks remarkably like Tobey Maguire mixed with Gyllenhaal, with long brown hair, jeans, and the look of disaster on his face running around a church screaming ”BOOST UP THE VOCALS!” while Grand Finale are preparing for sound check. They’re all wondering where their keyboardist Mikey is, and it’s twenty minutes before a benefit show for a charity that prevents child prostitution. I remember the first time I listened to Big City Someone. The first single I heard was ”I Always Say Chicago”. I immediately wanted to know what song was playing and who sang it. The first time I met him was on the night he would say he ”was running around like a chicken with its head cut off” because he was running the show, along with playing it. Big City Someone is Vince Pierri from Mundelein, and a Macbook. I can’t say much more other than that Vince is well, to say the least, really cool. He played after Tk Proposal who you should definitely check out in the interview I’ll post later. When Vince performs, his legs fidget and he doesn’t open his fluttering eyes until it’s all over. I know we did this interview forever (two months to be exact!) ago, but I had some of those ridiculous technical difficulties. I need a new video

camera, this was my first time editing a live interview, and it’s okay quality, but I really hope you enjoy ! =) You should definitely go to one of his few shows. Meet him before or after and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Not only that, but his music will make you stop talking and listen. He was born into a family with 5 other siblings (two of which are also involved in music) making it hard to pursue music alone. But he’s done just that,
and I have never had more fun than when we are gallavanting around the small town of Grayslake after the show trying to explain to him that there is no where to go to besides the cornfields. After being in other bands and doing previous shows, he’s finally settled and said that this is the last band he’ll be in. After being looked upon by the six-membered Christian rock band Underoath, they said, ”Of course Big City is Someone. This dude Read More

She’s been on tour with Kate Voegele, performed with Damian Rice, had songs featured in One Tree Hill, and landed several guest appearances on Gilmore Girls. Amy Kuney, a truly incredible lyricist, is definitely an artist to watch. Here’s our interview with this musician on the rise. Read More