Blink-182 has canceled its headlining set at next weeknd’s Bamboozle music festival in the wake of drummer Travis Barker’s emergency tonsillectomy. As a replacement, the festival has tapped My Chemical Romance.

Update: The band has canceled a majority of its upcoming U.S. tour dates, with the exception of a two dates in Oklahoma, which have been rescheduled for September. You can see the affected dates at Pollstar.

The Bamboozle takes place May 18-20th in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Along with My Chemical Romance, the lineup boasts Foo Fighters, Bon Jovi, Skrillex, Incubus, The Gaslight Anthem, and more. You can see the full lineup at Festival Outlook, and tickets remain available via the festival’s website.

Photo by Debi Del Grande

Believe it or not, Blink-182 turns 20 this year. Yet even after all this time, the band can still put together one heck of a catchy pop-punk album and show, mixing adolescent joviality with adulthood’s weight. To celebrate their two-decade-long career, Blink will traverse the globe on a 20th anniversary tour, as Punknews reports. So far, six North American dates, including a spot at NJ’s The Bamboozle, have been scheduled for May, with a score of European dates keeping them occupied for the rest of summer. More dates on this side of the pond are expected, so stay tuned. Their current schedule is below, followed by the video for “After Midnight”.

Blink-182 20th Anniversary Tour Dates:
05/15 – Rochester, NY @ Blue Cross Arena
05/17 – Manchester, NH @ Verizon Wireless Arena
05/18 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun
05/19 – Asbury Park, NJ @ The Bamboozle
05/20 – Bethlehem, PA @ Sands Bethlehem Event Center
05/22 – Quebec City, QC @ Colisee Pepsi Arena
06/07 – Birmingham, UK @ NIA Birmingham
06/08 – London, UK @ The O2
06/09 – London, UK @ The O2
06/12 – Dublin, IE @ The O2
06/13 – Belfast, UK @ Odyssey Arena
06/15 – Manchester, UK @ Manchester Arena
06/16 – Birmingham, UK @ LG Arena Birmingham
06/17 – Sheffield, UK @ Motorpoint Arena Sheffieuld
06/19 – Elswick, UK @ Metro Radio Arena
06/20 – Glasgow, UK @ SECC
06/23 – Scheessel, DE @ Hurricane Festival
06/24 – Neuhausen Ob Eck, DE @ Southside Festival
06/25 – Essen, DE @ Grugahalle Essen
06/26 – Frankfurt Am Main, DE @ Festhalle Frankfurt
06/28 – Brussels, BE @ Rock Werchter Festival
06/29 – Prague, CZ @ City Festival
06/30 – Berlin, DE @ Zitadelle Spandau
07/01 – Arras, FR @ Main Square Festival
07/03 – Milan, IT @ Mediolanum Forum
07/04 – Lucca Lu, IT @ Piazza Napoleone
07/05 – Zurich, CH @ Hallenstadion
07/07 – Bournemouth, UK @ International Centre
07/08 – Bodelva, UK @ Eden Project
07/10 – Cardiff, UK @ Motorpoint Arena Cardiff
07/11 – Nottingham, UK @ Capital FM Arena Nottingham
07/12 – Liverpool, UK @ Liverpool Echo Arena
07/14 – Luxembourg City, LU @ Rockhal
07/17 – Nîmes, FR @ Arènes de Nîmes
07/19 – Barcelone, ES @ St. Jordi Club
07/20 – Madrid, ES @ Palaciode los Deportes
07/21 – Lisbon, PT @ Atlantico Pavillion

It’s been a long year. Scratch that, it’s been a veeerrrry long year. From social revolutions to the end of our occupation of Iraq, from the death of celebrities and dictators to a man who sneezes bullets and the mystery of planking, the world experienced a slew of emotions and all sorts of cultural and political upheaval in 2011. And that’s not even counting the plethora of music news that had the blogosphere abuzz this year.

So, as the question begs, what comes next? Well, 2012. If you were to believe certain factions, it’ll be the end of days. A more likely scenario, though, is that it will be another busy year, with people to meet, triumphs to celebrate, disasters to mourn, and a whole other set of memories to file away as we march perpetually onward toward the Great Unknown. A dreary prospect for sure, one that almost makes the impending Apocalypse sound warm and fuzzy. However, there is temporary respite in the form of New Year’s Eve.

New Year’s Eve is that magic night where one year is all but over. It’s the chance to stop worrying for a moment. It’s an opportunity to celebrate surviving the last 364. It’s the start of a whole new scheme or design for the upcoming 365. Rather than chugging cheap champagne and letting off fireworks, NYE should be commemorated with the one thing that makes any year bearable: music.

As we have for every other major celebratory occasion, CoS has your back with our handy-dandy New Year’s Eve 2011 Concert Guide. From the beaches of Miami to life in the City of Angels, and everywhere between, our guide has everything you’ll need to know to see your favorite bands live. Whether you’re planning to rock out with Patti Smith at New York’s Bowery Ballroom, get freaky with The Flaming Lips and Yoko Ono in Oklahoma City, or hit up BOTH of Kaskade’s NYE shows (in two different state mind you), our guide is the only New Year’s Eve accessory you need (save for maybe a noisemaker). Plus, if you’re not one to brave the weather and the sea of drunks, we’ll tell you what you should be watching on the old boob tube. The point is, if it’s happening on NYE, it’s in this guide. Your only concern will be how to get home and/or where to pass out at the end of the night.

If we’ve missed any gathering or shindig, please let us know in the comments below. Call this a cliché bit of writing, but we’d like to leave you with some parting words from the immortal Benjamin Franklin to guide you into what lies ahead: “Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.”

See ya in 2012.

-Chris Coplan
News Editor

New York City

– AarabMUZIK, Balam Acab: 285 Kent

– Assembly of Dust: Mercury Lounge

– Avicii: Pier 34

– The Bad Plus: The Village Vanguard

– Charles Bradley, The Budos Band: Music Hall of Williamsburg

– Chuck Berry: B.B. King Blues Club

– Dark Star Orchestra: Wellmont Theatre (Montclair, NJ)

– Deadmau5: Pier 36

– Deer Tick, J. Roddy Watson and the Business, Dead Confederate: Brooklyn Bowl

– Fitz and the Tantrums: The Gramercy Theatre

– Gogol Bordello: Terminal 5

– Gov’t Mule: Beacon Theatre

– Infected Mushroom: Best Buy Theater

– The Knocks: Gansevoort Park Avenue

– Laidback Luke: Pacha

– Lee Fields & The Expressions: The Bell House

– Los Lobos: City Winery

– Matt and Kim, Super Mash Bros., Body Language: Hammerstein Ballroom

– Neru: Webster Hall

– The New Deal: B.B. King Blues Club

– New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men: Roseland Ballroom

– Nick Catchdubs: Loreley

– Nosaj Thing: Glasslands

– O’Death: Spike Hill

– Patti Smith: Bowery Ballroom

– Phish: Madison Square Garden

– Steve Lawler: District 36

– Ted Leo and the Pharmacists: Maxwells (Hoboken, NJ)

Chicago

– Alkaline Trio: Metro

– Big Gigantic: Riviera Theatre

– Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears: Double Door

– Cage the Elephant, Sleeper Agent: Aragon Ballroom

– Cave: The Hideout

– Disco Biscuits, Future Rock: Auditorium Theatre

– The Hood Internet: Lincoln Hall

– Keys N Krates: Chicago Urban Art Society

– Local H: Bottom Lounge

– Murder By Death: Subterranean

– Old 97s: Intercontinental Hotel Grand Ballroom

– Rusko, Sinden, Switch: Congress Theater

– The Spits: Cobra Lounge

Los Angeles

– The Aggrolites: Alex’s Bar

– Benny Benassi, Paul Van Dyk, Kaskade, Dada Life: Anaheim Convention Center (White Wonderland)

– DJ Quik: Key Club

– Duck Sauce, Diplo, Chromeo, Felix da Housecat, The Bloody Beetroots, LA Riots: Oak Canyon Park (Together As One)

– The Henry Clay People, Races: The Satellite

– Give Up the Ghost: Ukrainian Culture Center

– Jenny and Johnny, Cults: The Standard Hollywood

– John Digweed: The Avalon

– Junkie XL: Detroit Bar

– L.A. Guns: Whisky A Go Go

– Lupe Fiasco: Hollywood & Highland Center

– Musiq Soulchild: House of Blues

– Wanda Jackson, Best Coast, Dan Sartain: Club Nokia

San Francisco

– The Fresh & Onlys, Thee Oh Sees: Brick and Mortar Music Hall

– Furthur: Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

– Kreayshawn: The Regency Ballroom

– The Limousines: Rickshaw Stop

– Maceo Parker: Yoshi’s

– Santigold, Amon Tobin Islam Live, Beats Antique, Claude Von Stroke,: Concourse Exhibition Center (Sea of Dreams)

– Primus: Great American Music Hall

– The Slip: Cafe du Nord

– Sonny & The Sunsets: Amnesia

– Talib Kweli: Sloane Squared

– Tedeschi Trucks Band, The New Mastersounds: The Warfield

– Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue: The Fillmore

– X: Slim’s

– Yeasayer (DJ Set): W Hotel

– DJ Z-Trip: Fort Mason Center

London

– The 2 Bears: XOYO

– Adam Beyer: Fabric

– Ferry Corsten: Brixton Academy

– Gabby Young and Other Animals: Royal Festival Hall

– Gary Numan: All Star Lanes

– Gross Magic: The Victoria

– Joker, Brekage, Roska, Plastician, Sigma: Electric Brixon

– Kasabian, Chase & Status, Zane Lowe: The O2

– Toddla T: The Nest

– The Wedding Present: Dingwalls

Elsewhere

Aspen

– Jane’s Addiction: Belly Up

Athens (Georgia)

– MartyParty, Dubconscious: New Earth Music Hall

– of Montreal: Go Bar

– Reptar: Georgia Theatre

Atlanta

– Against Me!, Fake Problems, Franz Nicolay: The Masquerade

– Cake: Fox Theatre

– JJ Grey & Mofro: Variety Playhouse

– Kylesa: The Earl

– Naughty By Nature, Ed Kowalczyk: Hyatt Regency

– Perpetual Groove: Center Stage

– STS9: The Tabernacle

– Zac Brown Band: Philips Arena

Atlantic City

– Brand New: House of Blues

Austin

– Big Freedia: The Mohawk

– The Black Angels, Wooden Shjips, Ume: Emo’s East

– Bob Schneider, Quiet Company: Paramount Theatre

– Designer Drugs: Austin Music Hall

– Gary Clark Jr.: Antone’s

– Groupo Fantasma: Beauty Bar

– Hayes Carll: La Zona Rosa

– Penguin Prison: American Legion Hall

– Russian Circles: Red 7

– White Denim, Royal Bangs: The Empire Space

– Willie Nelson: Moody Theater

Australia

– Arctic Monkeys, Crystal Castles, Dan Deacon, The Naked and Famous: The Falls Festival (Lorne)

– Fleet Foxes, Beirut, CSS, CANT, Unknown Mortal Orchestra: The Falls Festival (Marion Bay)

Baltimore

– Carbon Leaf: Hyatt Regency

– SOJA: Baltimore Soundstage

Boston

– David Wax Museum: Lizard Lounge (Cambridge, MA)

– Lucero: Paradise

– New York Dolls: New England Conservatory

Charlotte (North Carolina)

– Widespread Panic: Time Warner Cable Arena

Dallas

– Girl Talk, Ghostland Observatory, MSTRKRFT, Neon Indian, Pendulum (DJ Set): Lights All Night

– The Polyphonic Spree, Centro-matic: House of Blues

– Quinton and Miss Pussycat: Zubar

Denver

– Flux Pavilion, Doctor P: Colorado Convention Center

– Gauntlet Hair, Pictureplane: The Larmier Lounge

– Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad: Cervantes’ Other Side

– Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Orgone: Cervatnes Ballroom

– Ladytron (DJ Set): City Hall

– Pretty Lights: 1stBANK Center (Broomfield, CO)

– Railroad Earth: Ogden Theatre

– Truckasauras: The Summit

– Ween: The Fillmore

Detroit

– The Detroit Cobras: Magic Stick

– Greensky Bluegrass, The Macpodz: Majestic Theatre

– Maze featuring Frankie Beverly: Masonic Temple

Greenville (South Carolina)

– The Avett Brothers: Bi-Lo Center

Houston

– Blue October: House of Blues

– Christopher Lawrence: Stereo Live

– Young Jeezy: Reliant Arena

Lake Tahoe

– Bassnectar, Pretty Lights, Thievery Corporation, The Glitch Mob, Childish Cambino, A-Trak, Theophilus London, YACHT: Snowglobe Music Festival

Las Vegas

– Chris Brown: Pure Nightclub

– Guns N’ Roses, Sebastian Bach: The Joint

– John Legend: Pearl Concert Theater

– Kaskade: Marquee

– NOFX, Lagwagon: House of Blues

– Paul Oakenfold: Rain

– Steve Angello: XS Nightclub

– Stevie Wonder: Cosmopolitan

Louisville (Kentucky)

– The Pass: Butchertown Pub Studios

Miami

– The Heavy Pets: Tobacco Road

– Spam All-Stars: The Catalina Hotel

Minneapolis

– Dawes: Varsity Theater

– EOTO: Skyway Theater

Milwaukee

– Skrillex, Dillon Francis: The Rave

Nashville

– Bassnectar: Bridgestone Arena

– Moon Taxi, Apache Relay: Exit/In

New Orleans

– Big Sam’s Funky Nation: The Joy Theater

– Black Lips: One Eyed Jacks

– Dr. John: House of Blues

– Funky Meters: Tipitina’s French Quarter

– Galactic, Anders Osborne: Tipitina’s Uptown

— Rebirth Brass Band: Howlin’ Wolf

Northampton (Massachusetts)

– Josh Ritter: Calvin Theater

– Rubblebucket: Pearl Street Nightclub

Oklahoma City

– The Flaming Lips, Yoko Ono: Brickstown Events Center

Orlando

– Trivium, Sevendust, Black Tide: House of Blues

– Slightly Stoopid, The Expendables: Hard Rock Live

Ottawa

– Electric Six: Mavericks

Philadelphia

– Clutch: Trocadero

– Eternal Summers, Bleeding Rainbow: Level Room

– Good Old War, River City Extension: Theatre of Living Arts

– Lotus: Festival Pier

– Man Man (DJ Set), Dr. Dog (DJ Set), Sun Airway (DJ Set): Johnny Brenda’s

– Smoking Popes: North Star Bar

Phoenix

– Meat Puppets: Clubhouse Music Venue

Portland (Maine)

– moe.: State Theatre

Portland (Oregon)

– Leftover Salmon: Roseland Theater

– Nurses, Radiation City: Mississippi Studios

– Pierced Arrows: Ash Street Saloon

– Red Fang: Star Theater

– Reverend Horton Heat, Supersuckers: The Crystal Ballroom

– Talkdemonic: Misson Theater

San Diego

– Fedde Le Grand, Porter Robinson, Hardwell, Bart B More: Valley View Casino Center (OMFG! NYE)

– Kinky: 4th & B

Seattle

– Mustard Pimp: King Cat Theatre

– Starfucker, Champagne Champagne: The Crocodile

St. Louis (Missouri):

– Cowboy Mouth: Old Rock House

– Devon Allman’s Honeytribe: Blueberry Hill

– Excision: Koken Art Factory

– Umphrey’s McGee: The Pageant

Toronto

– Elliot Brood: Lee’s Palace

– Kyuss! Lives: Cherry Cola’s Rock N’ Rolla Cabaret & Lounge

– The Sadies: Horseshoe Tavern

– Steve Aoki, Thomas Gold: Kool Haus

Vancouver

– Tiësto: Pacific Coliseum

Washington, DC

– Animal Collective (DJ Set), Le Tigre (DJ Set), ANR (DJ Set): 1800 L Street NW (BYT NYE)

– Drive-By Truckers, Booker T, Alabama Shakes: 9:30 Club

– Gucci Mane: Love Night Club

– Morgan Page: Fur Nightclub

– Painted Face: Rock and Roll Hotel

On TV

– Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (ABC): Lady Gaga, Florence and the Machine, Blink-182, Nicki Minaj

– New Year’s Eve with Carson Daily (NBC): Drake, The Roots, Cee-Lo Green

– NYE in NYC (MTV): J. Cole

– Coldplay New Year’s Eve: An Austin City Limits Special (PBS)

Photo by Debi Del Grande

Blink-182 have revealed a video for “After Midnight” from their recently released LP Neighborhoods. At just over four minutes, the Issac Rentz-directed clip is a highlight reel of an evening two mischievous teens spend unaccompanied in the halls of their youth psychiatric ward, spliced with footage of the band performing in an empty airplane hanger. The connection might be lost, but who doesn’t want to spend the night setting off sprinkler systems and digging through pharmaceuticals set to the jams of Blink-182?! Catch all the craziness below.

Order your own copy of Neighborhoods in CD, vinyl or mp3 form.

It’s hard to believe that 22 years ago, KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas in Los Angeles started out with a handful of bands who actually played acoustic sets. Fast forward to 2011 and any band would love a coveted spot in the lineup at the Gibson Amphitheatre. The weekend sells out in a matter of seconds and two worthy charity organizations benefit. This year, night one benefited Para Los Niños, a non-profit family service agency designed to raise at-risk children out of poverty and into brighter futures through positive educational opportunities and support. While night two benefited the Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center, providing a safe after-school environment where hundreds of boys and girls in South Central Los Angeles participate in tutoring, learn important social skills, and are guided to succeed in school and enter college.

It’s an entertaining two nights. Music fans are never bored because there’s never a break between acts. The stage turns around delivering one band after another. This year, the acts included everyone from indie delights Cage the Elephant, Young the Giant, and Foster the People to veterans Blink-182, Bush, and 311 to newer mainstays The Black Keys, Florence + the Machine, and Mumford and Sons. An eclectic line up for an eclectic city. Here’s how it went down – in photos.

Gallery by Debi Del Grande

[nggallery id=310]

Foo Fighters, Blink-182, and Bon Jovi are set to headline the 2012 installment of The Bamboozle music festival. The annual New Jersey-based festival celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2012 and will return to its original location at Asbury Park from May 18-20th. In all, some 100+ acts will play the three-day festival.

Three-day passes are priced at $190 and go on sale Saturday, December 17th via LiveNation. Single-day passes ($65 for Friday, $75 for Saturday or Sunday) will also be available.

Almost Acoustic Christmas, the annual two-day concert staged by Los Angeles radio station KROQ, takes place this weekend at the Gibson Amphitheatre. Beginning at 5:40 pm PT on Saturday and 5:30pm on Sunday, tune in below to watch the concert’s live webcast. Day one offers Blink-182, Social Distortion, Young the Giant, 311, and more, while day two promises The Black Keys, Florence and the Machine, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Death Cab For Cutie, Mumford and Sons, and more. The complete schedule is underneath the video player.

Saturday, December 10th:
05:40 pm – New Found Glory
06:10 pm – Young The Giant
06:40 pm – Chevelle
07:15 pm – Bush
08:00 pm – Sublime With Rome (replacing Incubus, who cancelled due to illness)
08:45 pm – Social Distortion
09:30 pm – 311
10:25 pm – Blink-182

Sunday, December 11th:
05:30 pm – Grouplove
05:55 pm – The Naked and Famous
06:20 pm – Foster the People
06:50 pm – Cage the Elephant
07:20 pm – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
07:50 pm – Florence and the Machine
08:30 pm – Death Cab For Cutie
09:10 pm – Mumford and Sons
09:55 pm – The Black Keys
10:40 pm – Jane’s Addiction

* All times listed in PST.

Photo by Lauren Guagno

Although they’re currently touring America – and soon heading overseas – it feels like it’s been awhile since we’ve seen or heard from Blink-182. (In fact, the last time they hit up the late night circuit was back in October. What gives, guys?) But last night, the California trio returned to the small screen to perform their pop-punk ballad “After Midnight” on Conan. Albeit sluggish in appearance, the three hammered out the Neighborhoods track to precision; in other words, Tom DeLonge’s voice didn’t crack once. It’s a Christmas miracle. Check it out below.

Neighborhoods is out now. Order your copy on CD, digitally, or as a Deluxe Edition.

Blink-182 2011-2012 Tour Dates:
12/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas
12/11 – San Diego, CA @ Valley View Casino Center (91X Wrex The Halls)
06/07 – Birmingham, UK @ NIA
06/08 – London, UK @ O2 Arena
06/09 – London, UK @ O2 Arena
06/12 – Dublin, IE @ O2 Arena
06/13 – Belfast, IE @ Odyssey Arena
06/15 – Manchester, UK @ MEN
06/16 – Birmingham, UK @ LG Arena
06/17 – Sheffield, UK @ Motorpoint Arena
06/20 – Glasgow, UK @ SECC
06/23 – Scheessel, DE @ Hurricane Festival
06 /24 – Neuhausen Ob Eck, DE @ Southside Festival
06/25 – Essen, DE @ Grugahalle
06/26 – Frankfurt, DE @ Festhalle
06/29 – Prague, CZ @ City Festival
06/30 – Berlin, DE @ Zitadelle Spandau
07/03 – Milan, IT @ Mediolanum Forum
07/04 – Lucca Lu, IT @ Piazza Napoleone
07/10 – Cardiff, UK @ Motorpoint Arena
07/11 – Nottingham, UK @ Capital FM Arena
07/12 – Liverpool, UK @ Echo Arena

One second. Sometimes that’s all a photographer gets – and hardly in ideal conditions. At worst (and most likely), a photographer may be squeezed between 15 others in the pit, mere feet away from pyrotechnics, finding support from stress-rattled knees, while focusing on a spastic frontman and sheltering oneself from a downpour, which may or may not involve a hailstorm. Truth: A great photographer handles the unenviable task of capturing that one moment everyone goes home thinking about. Half-truth: There’s probably a statistic somewhere that discusses what the job does to the heart. If not, there should be a study. Double-truth: It’s just a sweaty, life-threatening task.

Hi, I’m Michael Roffman, President and Editor-in-Chief of Consequence of Sound. You may know me from such stories as “Look Out! The Gaslight Anthem is Coming!” or “Scratch that… Brian Wilson is not returning to The Beach Boys.” This year, I sent out dozens of writers and photographers to hundreds of shows and just about every major music festival this side of the Atlantic (some even overseas). Without a doubt, our eyes were everywhere.

More specifically, our photographers’ multiple weighty lenses. In the past 12 months, we’ve published countless, fully-stocked galleries, featuring some of the most awe-inspiring shots on the ‘net, all thanks to our brave and inordinately talented photographers. Actually, that’s an understatement. These artists bleed talent – to get somewhat histrionic. Look, we value words, but as Fred R. Barnard so famously wrote, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Cliche, but you spend over four years putting these live and festival reviews together. You’ll quickly see how true that statement is. To date, I still feel like I’ve attended Bonnaroo.*

For our annual report, we put together our 100 favorite photos of the year. Lots of colors, lots of locales, and plenty of popular mugs to savor. So, throw on some tunes, grab a bag of chips, and enjoy the trip. You’ll go places, kiddo.

-Michael Roffman
President/Editor-in-Chief

* Would never happen. This guy in mud? Nah.

Weezer

Event: Weezer at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom
Date: 1/7/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

The Walkmen

Event: The Walkmen at Atlanta’s Variety Playhouse
Date: 1/13/2011
Photographer: Max Blau

Girl Talk

Event: Girl Talk at Atlanta’s Tabernacle
Date: 1/21/2011
Photographer: Max Blau

Sad Brad Smith

Event: Sad Brad Smith at Chicago’s Schubas Tavern
Date: 1/23/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

The Church

Event: The Church at Chicago’s Park West
Date: 2/11/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Robyn

Event: Robyn at Chicago’s The Riviera Theatre
Date: 2/14/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

The Dismemberment Plan

Event: The Dismemberment Plan at Chicago’s Metro
Date: 2/19/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Ben Kweller

Event: Ben Kweller at Chicago’s Vic Theatre
Date: 2/23/2011
Photographer: Joshua Mellin

Bright Eyes

Event: Bright Eyes at Miami’s The Fillmore
Date: 3/2/2011
Photographer: Lauren Guagno

Raphael Saadiq

Event: Raphael Saadiq at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

Baby Headphones

Event: SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Owen Pallett

Event: Owen Pallett at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

The Strokes

Event: The Strokes at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

The Kills

Event: The Kills at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

TV on the Radio w/ Yo Gabba Gabba!

Event: TV on the Radio w/ Yo Gabba Gabba! at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Matt & Kim

Event: Matt & Kim at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Odd Future

Event: Odd Future at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Odd Future

Event: Odd Future at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Hollerado

Event: Hollerado at Axis of Audio Showcase: SXSW 2011
Date: 3/19/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

Astronautalis

Event: Astronautalis (& Four Fists) at Axis of Audio Showcase: SXSW 2011
Date: 3/19/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

P.O.S.

Event: P.O.S. at Paid Dues Festival 2011
Date: 4/2/2011
Photographer: Winston Robbins

The Mountain Goats

Event: The Mountain Goats at Chicago’s Vic Theatre
Date: 4/5/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

Queens of the Stone Age

Event: Queens of the Stone Age at Oakland’s Fox Theatre
Date: 4/11/2011
Photographer: Karina Halle

The Strokes

Event: The Strokes at Coachella 2011
Date: 4/15-17/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

Kanye West

Event: Kanye West at Coachella 2011
Date: 4/15-17/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

The National

Event: The National, Arcade Fire at Chicago’s UIC Pavillion
Date: 4/24/2011
Photographer: Lauren Guagno

Arcade Fire

Event: The National, Arcade Fire at Chicago’s UIC Pavillion
Date: 4/24/2011
Photographer: Lauren Guagno

Battles

Event: Battles at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall
Date: 4/30/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

tUnE-yArDs

Event: tUnE-yArDs at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall
Date: 5/10/2011
Photographer: Wallo Villacorta

Lykke Li

Event: Lykke Li at Chicago’s Metro
Date: 5/23/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

The Gorge

Event: Sasquatch! 2011
Date: 5/27-30/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Death From Above 1979

Event: Death From Above 1979 at Sasquatch! 2011
Date: 5/27-30/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Robyn

Event: Robyn at Sasquatch 2011
Date: 5/27-30/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Fitz and the Tantrums

Event: Fitz and the Tantrums at Sasquatch! 2011
Date: 5/27-30/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

The Flaming Lips

Event: The Flaming Lips at Sasquatch! 2011
Date: 5/27-30/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

The Decemberists

Event: Sasquatch! 2011
Date: 5/27-30/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Melvins

Event: Melvins at Chicago’s Double Door
Date: 5/31/2011
Photographer: Katie Schuering

Bonnaroo Fan

Event: Bonnaroo 2011
Date: 6/9-12/2011
Photographer: Ben Kaye

Buffalo Springfield

Event: Buffalo Springfield at Bonnaroo 2011
Date: 6/9-12/2011
Photographer: Max Blau

Eminem

Event: Eminem at Bonnaroo 2011
Date: 6/9-12/2011
Photographer: Max Blau

Future Islands

Event: Future Islands at Chicago’s Subterranean
Date: 6/15/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

Florence + the Machine

Event: Florence + the Machine at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom
Date: 6/18/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

Glastonbury

Event: Glastonbury 2011
Date: 6/22-26/2011
Photographer: Laura Page

Eddie Vedder w/ Glen Hansard

Event: Eddie Vedder at The Chicago Theatre
Date: 6/28/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Phish Heads

Event: Phish Super Ball IX
Date: 7/1-3/2011
Photographer: Jake Cohen

Fucked Up

Event: Fucked Up at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall
Date: 7/2/2011
Photographer: Jeremy D. Larson

Cold Cave

Event: Cold Cave at Pitchfork 2011
Date: 7/15-17/2011
Photographer: Jeremy D. Larson

OFF!

Event: OFF! at Pitchfork 2011
Date: 7/15-17/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti

Event: Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti at Pitchfork 2011
Date: 7/15-17/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

tUnE-yArDs

Event: tUnE-yArDs at Pitchfork 2011
Date: 7/15-17/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

Fleet Foxes

Event: Fleet Foxes at Pitchfork 2011
Date: 7/15-17/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

Soundgarden

Event: Soundgarden, Queens of the Stone Age, Mastodon at Washington’s Gorge Amphitheater
Date: 7/30/2011
Photographer: Karina Halle

Paul McCartney

Event: Paul McCartney at Chicago’s Wrigley Field
Date: 7/31/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Lolla Chicago

Event: Lollapalooza 2011
Date: 8/5-7/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Le Butcherettes

Event: Le Butcherettes at Lollapalooza 2011
Date: 8/5-7/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Crystal Castles

Event: Crystal Castles at Lollapalooza 2011
Date: 8/5-7/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Coldplay

Event: Coldplay at Lollapalooza 2011
Date: 8/5-7/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

The Chain Gang of 1974

Event: The Chain Gang of 1974 at Lollapalooza 2011
Date: 8/5-7/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Ellie Goulding

Event: Ellie Goulding at Lollapalooza 2011
Date: 8/5-7/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Foo Fighters

Event: Foo Fighters at Chicago’s Metro
Date: 8/6/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Foster the People

Event: Foster the People at Outside Lands 2011
Date: 8/12-14/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

Muse

Event: Muse at Outside Lands 2011
Date: 8/12-14/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

Arcade Fire

Event: Arcade Fire at Outside Lands 2011
Date: 8/12-14/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

Bush

Event: Bush at Chicago’s Congress Theatre
Date: 8/18/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Rubblebucket

Event: Rubblebucket at North Coast 2011
Date: 9/2-4/2011
Photographer: Lillian Cai

Pearl Jam

Event: Pearl Jam at PJ20 at Alpine Valley
Date: 9/3-4/2011
Photographer: Jeremy D. Larson

Erykah Badu

Event: Erykah Badu at New York’s Rock the Bells 2011
Date: 9/3/2011
Photographer: Jake Cohen

Lauryn Hill

Event: Lauryn Hill at New York’s Rock the Bells 2011
Date: 9/3/2011
Photographer: Jake Cohen

The Kills

Event: The Kills at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom
Date: 9/5/2011
Photographer: Karina Halle

James Vincent McMorrow

Event: James Vincent McMorrow at Chicago’s Hideout
Date: 9/15/2011
Photographer: Matt Hyland

Delta Spirit

Event: Delta Spirit at Austin City Limits 2011
Date: 9/16-18/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

My Morning Jacket

Event: My Morning Jacket at Austin City Limits 2011
Date: 9/16-18/2011
Photographer: Nate Slevin

Kanye West

Event: Kanye West at Austin City Limits 2011
Date: 9/16-18/2011
Photographer: Nate Slevin

Randy Newman

Event: Randy Newman at Austin City Limits 2011
Date: 9/16-18/2011
Photographer: Nate Slevin

Incubus

Event: Incubus at Miami’s Bayfront Park
Date: 9/20/2011
Photographer: Lauren Guagno

Blink-182

Event: Blink-182 at West Palm Beach’s Cruzan Amphitheatre
Date: 9/23/2011
Photographer: Lauren Guagno

Deerhoof

Event: Deerhoof at Chicago’s Bottom Lounge
Date: 9/25/2011
Photographer: Katie Schuering

Radiohead

Event: Radiohead at New York City’s Roseland Ballroom
Date: 9/28/2011
Photographer: Nate Slevin

St. Vincent

Event: St. Vincent at Chicago’s Metro
Date: 10/5/2011
Photographer: Katie Schuering

Portishead

Event: Portishead at Chicago’s Aragon Theater
Date: 10/12/2011
Photographer: Jeremy D. Larson

Sims

Event: Doomtree at Minneapolis’ Fine Line Music Cafe
Date: 10/15/2011
Photographer: Harley Brown

The Stepkids

Event: The Stepkids at CMJ 2011
Date: 10/18-22/2011
Photographer: Jeremy D. Larson

Duran Duran

Event: Duran Duran at The Chicago Theatre
Date: 10/21/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Deadmau5

Event: deadmau5 at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom
Date: 10/22/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Moby

Event: Moby at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

Moby

Event: Moby at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

Childish Gambino

Event: Childish Gambino at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Catherine Watkins

Suicide

Event: Suicide at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

The Flaming Lips

Event: The Flaming Lips at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Catherine Watkins

Mayer Hawthorne & County

Event: Mayer Hawthorne & County at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

M83

Event: M83 at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

Zola Jesus

Event: Zola Jesus at San Francisco’s The Independent
Date: 11/1/2011
Photographer: Summer Dunsmore

Feist

Event: Feist at Chicago’s The Riviera Theatre
Date: 11/4/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

The Raconteurs

Event: The Raconteurs at Orlando Calling 2011
Date: 11/12-13/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

Pixies

Event: Pixies at Orlando Calling 2011
Date: 11/12-13/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

YACHT

Event: YACHT at San Francisco’s The Independent
Date: 11/17/2011
Photographer: Summer Dunsmore

M83

Event: M83 at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall
Date: 11/17/2011
Photographer: Jeremy D. Larson

The Cure

Event: The Cure at Los Angeles’ Pantages Theatre
Date: 11/23/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

Tinariwen

Event: Tinariwen at Minneapolis’ Cedar Cultural Center
Date: 11/26/2011
Photographer: Harley Brown

Iggy Pop and the Stooges

Event: Iggy Pop and the Stooges at Hollywood’s Palladium
Date: 12/1/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

Almost Acoustic Christmas, the annual two-day concert staged by Los Angeles radio station KROQ, returns to the Gibson Amphitheatre from December 10-11th. This year’s lineup packs radio rock heavyweights of past and present, with Blink-182, Incubus, and Jane’s Addiction billed alongside The Black Keys, Florence and the Machine, and Mumford and Sons.

Rounding out the lineup are Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Death Cab For Cutie, Social Distortion, Foster the People, Young the Giant, 311, Bush, Cage the Elephant, Grouplove, The Naked and Famous, Chevelle, and New Found Glory. You can find the day-by-day breakdown below, and stay tuned to our Festival Outlook for any additional lineup news and updates.

Tickets are priced at $75 per night, with night one on sale beginning Wednesday at 10 AM PST, and night two on sale beginning Friday, November 18th at 10 AM PST. Click here for additional details.

Night One, December 10th:
Blink-182
Incubus
Bush
Social Distortion
311
Young the Giant
Chevelle
New Found Glory

Night Two, December 11th:
The Black Keys
Florence and the Machine
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Death Cab For Cutie
Jane’s Addiction
Mumford and Sons
Foster the People
The Naked and Famous
Cage the Elephant
Grouplove

Photo by Lauren Guagno

These days, it’s slightly surreal seeing Blink-182 on-stage; sort of like flipping through your old high school yearbook over the holidays. Are we that old already, you might ask yourself again and again. Similar questions surfaced last night on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus, and Travis Barker punched in at ABC Studios. Supporting their new LP, Neighborhoods, the CA (former?) foul-mouthed trio rolled out new singles “Up All Night” and later “After Midnight”. Be forewarned: Gone are the absurd lyrics, instead replaced by edgier tones and slightly hoarse vocals. Don’t fret, though. It’s still washed over and wrung out and doused again with angst – flashing lights, notwithstanding. Check out the clip below courtesy of The Audio Perv.

When they were a pop machine that took the world by storm, Blink often wrote about the following subjects: strange sex, strange sex with animals, personal anecdotes about each other’s genitalia, chugging beer, and pissing your girlfriend off in the process. As a result, their lyrics have always been on the brink of absurd, if not downright hilarious. Throughout their last two albums–2003′s self-titled effort and their latest LP, Neighborhoods–the trio have leaned toward the more serious side of life and, as a result, have tackled subjects beyond “fucking and sucking” their own kin.

Regardless, it’s hard to forget the Blink-182 that used to sing about running around naked, obsessing over Princess Leia, and facing the harsh complexities that surround any struggling teenager’s attempts to get laid. So, we put together 16 of the most asinine lyrics the band has written. And let’s just say, they’re not quite grown-ups yet–at least lyrically, speaking.

-Ted Maider
Media Specialist

Song: “Happy Holidays, You Bastard”
Album: Take Off Your Pants and Jacket
What CoS Says: ”Geriatric incontinence fueled by animal byproducts on a federal holiday may seem like the most ridiculous part here, but in reality it’s the idea that any man, old or young, would eat seven hot dogs outside of a bet. Did Hoppus torture his own grandfather to produce a funny lyric? We can only assume he did.”

Song: “A New Hope”
Album: Dude Ranch
What CoS Says: “Blink-182 acolytes will take bullets for the following things: 1) the girl of their dreams and 2) George Lucas. Hoppus and DeLonge worked their love of the holy trilogy (or perhaps just Princess Leia or maybe just Carrie Fischer or most likely Carrie Fischer pre-Drop Dead Fred) into a song, and it doesn’t get more nerdy than that.”

Song: “M+M’s”
Album: Cheshire Cat
What CoS Says: “Generally speaking, there’s only one way you can make love with your hand, but please, indulge us regarding the exact moment in your life where you exhausted all avenues of self-pleasure with your hand. Be warned: You should have a spotter if you’re adding asphyxiation to the, shall we say, playing field. Or, just go and attempt to find some human contact. For more help with that, listen to Prince and Barry White. Now.”

Song: “Anthem”
Album: Enema of the State
What CoS Says: “Nothing like a simple rhyme scheme and sexual reference to try and lighten the tension of having your house party busted. Also, that kind of accusation–especially directed toward one’s neighbor–shouldn’t be hung on a hunch. Pics or it didn’t happen, Hoppus.”

Song: “Family Reunion”
Album: The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show
What CoS Says: “An analysis of the text reveals the sporadic structure of this line, which can offer insight into the author’s intentions. The stressed syllables clearly imply immense weight on each word and a repeated emphasis without pause. Hoppus’s delivery of this line then matches its meter, for this repeated strain is delivered with heretofore unparalleled courage and power, supported by emotions plumbed and solicited from only the purest and most veracious chambers of the human heart. Also, fart.”

Song: “What’s My Age Again?”
Album: Enema of the State
What CoS Says: “Mark Hoppus is about to get lucky, so what is on television that could possibly be better than what’s happening to him at that moment? Probably nothing, unless it was Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, ’cause I think everybody watched that in ’99. Just remember, Mr. Hoppus: There’s always a time and a place for Regis. On the bed, with your pants down, is not one of those times.”

Song: “Degenerate”
Album: Dude Ranch
What CoS Says: “Technically, I don’t think it’s ‘mooning’ if you have no clothes on. You’re just a naked dude bending over.”

Song: “M+M’s”
Album: Cheshire Cat
What CoS Says: “Hoppus rhymes “car” with “car” here, which some may think is a boner move, but we think it takes guts. Plus, it’s probably not very easy to drive to Madagascar from San Diego. I think there’s an ocean in there somewhere…”

Song: “Shut Up”
Album: Take Off Your Pants and Jacket
What CoS Says: “In the words of Stephanie Judith Tanner, now a meth addict and desperate shadow of her former self, ‘How rude.’”

Song: “This Is Home”
Album: Neighborhoods
What CoS Says: “Do they mean the physical act of fucking animals? Or is ‘fucking’ simply used as a modifier? A mystery. Sort of like when someone claims ‘funk rock’ as their favorite genre. You never know if they prefer more rock or just straight-up funk. Or, maybe we’re just thinking too hard on this. Here’s an idea: Has anyone seen someone fuck an animal? Were they dancing? Is anyone even listening to me?”

Song: “Fighting the Gravity”
Album: Neighborhoods
What CoS Says: “Could you imagine if more artists provided disclosures like this before their songs? Like, if Tom Waits basically admitted, ‘Before we start this song, I want you to know I’m going to talk about killing someone. And it’ll creep you out. You’ll also think I’m cooler for it.’ Respect.”

Song: “Give Me One Good Reason”
Album: Take Off Your Pants and Jacket
What CoS Says: “Do all the girls really want to do this? Why are torn pantyhose more rebellious than normal ones? Ripped jeans are one thing, but torn pantyhose? What happens when they’re washed? Disintegrated. That’s just wasteful.”

Song: “Snake Charmer”
Album: Neighborhoods
What CoS Says: “Have you ever read Dante’s Inferno? Sort of creepy. For anyone who doesn’t believe in god, it might be seen as some scary comic book. One scene that sticks out to this day are the two cantos revolving around two thieves and some mutating snakes. Sort of like that ‘found footage’ onboard the Event Horizon. (Sam Neil, anyone?) Gives me the heebie jeebies. Thanks for the flashback, Blink-182.”

Song: “I Won’t Be Home For Christmas”
Album: B-Side
What CoS Says: “It must suck being nicknamed Bubba these days. You’re either a reminder of a gaudy restaurant across America (taken from an equally gaudy movie) or some nefarious fellow from prison. Our hearts go out to you.”

Song: “Feeling This”
Album: Blink-182
What CoS Says: “It’s shouted 14 times. Nuff’ said.”

Song: “Josie”
Album: Dude Ranch
What CoS Says: “But why? You must either be hungry or deserve it. She’s not just going to get you tacos for the hell of it. If that’s the case, one should be grateful, especially since we’re assuming this is California Mexican food? Yeah, this Josie is someone even your angry, spiteful father could get behind. Not literally, of course. Yes, we just went there.”

Photo by Lauren Guagno

There’s a brand new video for Blink-182′s Neighborhoods single “Heart’s All Gone”. Available below, the Jason Bergh-directed clip is of the live performance style, featuring Mark, Tom, and Travis blitzing through the track during a recent stop on the Honda Civic Tour. Check it out below.

Neighborhoods is out now (via DGC/Interscope) and you can read our review of it here. You can also listen to it for yourself here. Our own Phil Roffman recently caught Blink on the road and you can read his review of it here. You can also see them for yourself at any one of the stops listed below.

Blink-182 2011-2012 Tour Dates:
09/29 – Albuquerque, NM @ Journal Pavilion %
09/30 – Phoenix, AZ @ Tempe Beach Park Amphitheatre %
10/01 – Anahiem, CA @ Honda Center %
10/02 – Sacramento, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre %
10/04 – Concord, CA @ Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord %
10/05 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre %
10/07 – Las Vegas, NV @ Red Rock Resort, Spa & Casino %
10/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl %
10/15 – San Diego, CA @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre %
10/29 – New Orleans, VA @ Voodoo Experience
06/29 – Prague, CZ @ Prague City Festival
07/03 – Milan, IT @ Mediolanum Forum

% = w/ Matt & Kim

The adolescent juxtaposition was a strength as much as a signature. So, given the epic dramatics of their last studio release, it’s not a surprise that Neighborhoods is even doomier and gloomier than its predecessor. The band has seen their fair share of obstacles over the past eight years, from typical grievances like divorce to the tragic plane crash that nearly took Travis Barker’s life and indirectly led to the death of the band’s good friend DJ AM. It only makes sense that they’d amp up the pessimism and plunge into darkness, and much like Blink-182, that’s both the weakness and the strength of Neighborhoods. The weighty aesthetic makes the punky bombast all that more effective and fascinating but also tends to swallow it up in an ocean of melodrama.

Fortunately, the tracks that work work well. Opener “Ghost on the Dance Floor” makes wonderful use of the band’s clashing energies, kicking off with ’80s keyboard ambiance soon invaded by Tom DeLonge’s furious buzz saw guitar. It fades in slowly, then bursts into familiar full throttle with Barker’s precise snare and Hoppus’ full bass, teetering back and forth between seeps of synthesizers and perfected three-chord bliss. The trend continues on “Natives”, its rapid-fire offbeat strategically derailed by ethereal guitar and Hoppus’s haunting chorus, rife with romantic yearning and imagery of Jekyll and Hyde.

The record’s first misstep comes with third track and (confusingly) first single, “Up All Night”, which combines the bloated production of Angels & Airwaves with the snot-packed nag of Boxcar Racer, abruptly switching between crunchy guitar and an unfocused keyboard riff. Hoppus has always possessed a clearer vocal quality that seems better suited for the more serious stuff (DeLonge often sounds like he’s whining), but on “Up All Night”, he’s limited to the chorus and a couple of trade-off lines in the verses. Although having two vocalists continues to serve the band well, it’d be nice to hear Hoppus featured a bit more on Neighborhoods. His stripped-down “Heart’s All Gone” ranks among the best tracks on the record, blending the bare bones of three-piece instrumentation with lyrics that are simple yet mature. “This seemed so sweet at the start, but the start’s all wrong/you say you speak from your heart, but your heart’s all gone,” he belts. It’s a track that blends the best elements of Blink’s younger years with the weathered wisdom of their late 30s.

“Mh 4.18.2011″ follows the same garage-hook formula with great success, as does DeLonge’s “Wishing Well”, making nice use of muted production flourishes interrupted by a popping chorus reminiscent of younger punkers Gaslight Anthem. Here, DeLonge’s lyrics rely on visuals instead of empty overstatements, crafting a sonic narrative of diving into a wishing well and eventually washing up on a jagged shore. It trumps overwrought sentiments such as, “All I hear are the many echoes of the darkest words you said,” found on earlier, sludgier cut “After Midnight”. The album closes in similar soap opera fashion with “Love Is Dangerous”. Saccharine keyboards float over a plodding chord progression and numbing echo effects, building nowhere to a chorus that does nothing but repeat the clunky title of the song.

The deluxe edition contains two additional tracks at the end: Barker’s cluttered soundscape “Fighting the Gravity” and DeLonge yawner “Even if She Falls”.  Along with “Snakecharmer”, which sounds like it was produced by Linkin Park, and an unnecessary interlude that leads into “Heart’s All Gone” (nearly stripping the song of everything that makes it good), the bonus tracks do little but inflate an already inflated album. With the 10-song version, the moments of brilliance (and there are many) are still able to shine through, giving hope that Blink could one day put out a record that perfectly marries their catchy energy with their more adult impulses.

Essential Tracks: “Ghost on the Dance Floor”, “Heart’s All Gone”, and “Natives”

Without a moment’s notice, Brooklyn’s own Matt & Kim hit the stage in signature fashion, which is to say: “Cue the anthemic music. Place wild grin on Kim behind drum set. Deep focus on Matt as he stands on his piano chair with his arms wide-open to the crowd. Toss balloons out. Enter Kim into audience. Close with ‘Daylight’. Extinguish sun.”

Photo by Phillip Roffman

What’s upsetting about Matt and Kim’s performance was how un-upsetting it was (and always seems to be).There’s never a crack in their perfectly orchestrated production, which can be both good and bad. The Brooklyn duo is undoubtedly the underdog of this tour, set amidst juggernaut acts like My Chemical Romance and Blink-182, so it makes sense that they wouldn’t tweak something that’s admittedly not broken. But, for fans of the group, the shtick has grown tiresome and highly predictable. Regardless, it’s always fun to hear “Cameras”, “Yea Yeah”, and “Block After Block”, and, true to their foresight, the newcomers dug it, although the party hardly reached the lawn area.

Next up was Gerard Way’s post-hardcore extravaganza. Prior to any music hitting the stage from My Chemical Romance, an Asian woman appeared on screens, repeating phrases again and again, the whole thing mirroring those videos from Lost‘s Dharma Initiative. The band hit the stage soon after. Leaving behind the Sephora merch and Gothic Sgt. Pepper’s fashion of yesteryear, the New Jersey rockers instead came out looking like garage punk heroes, shattering any prior assumptions.

Photo by Phillip Roffman

Still in support of last year’s Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, My Chemical Romance performed a variety of hits off the effort, including set opener (and the irritably titled) “Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)” and “Planetary (Go!)”. Throughout the performance, however, Way appeared beleaguered and out of breath as he stomped back and forth on stage, leaving guitarist Frank Iero to fill in the gaps on hits “I’m Not Ok (I Promise)” and “Helena”. Although the songs sounded sharp enough altogether, the showmanship did lack some finesse, though perhaps Way was just having a rough night.

Finally, Southern California’s foul-mouthed trio Blink-182 hit the stage. To say that the audience lost their shit would be the understatement of the year. This was an audience hungry for their high school days, yearning for dick and fart jokes and the moment they first heard 1997′s Dude Ranch (or 1999′s Enema of the State). They didn’t let up, and, although Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, and Travis Barker weren’t sporting their early 2000 trend of Dickies and skate shoes, or even their backwards trucker hats, it still felt like nothing had changed. This is the new Blink-182, back with a slightly new image.

Photo by Lauren Guagno

“Feeling This”, a highlight from their 2003 self-titled album, started off the night, soon followed by new single “Up All Night” off of their new LP, Neighborhoods. The former had every soul in the audience singing their heart out, while the latter left plenty in limbo. A few dedicated fans sang aloud. “Son of a bitch, Miami,” DeLonge screamed out. “Hey, ladies, want a song?” Hoppus looked around, grinning wildly.

Yep, nothing’s changed. The semantics continued like this throughout the night. Whether it was DeLonge’s fixation with his own dick, Hoppus’s consistent banter with the audience, or wordplay with DeLonge, it all felt wholly fitting. At one point, Hoppus focused on nearby signs, reading them one by one: “Freebird?”, “We love you!”, “Tom, I’m pregnant!” So, apparently the fans have yet to grow up, too.

Photo by Lauren Guagno

Although the subject material of the group’s music has matured, DeLonge and Hoppus won’t ever miss an opportunity to ache those sides of yours. For instance, after gunning through more meditative songs like “Down” or “I Miss You”, DeLonge screamed out, “It feels like Satan is jacking off on me. It’s so fucking hot!” Naturally, that was the segue into highly reflective track “Stay Together for the Kids”. Remember always, there are two sides to everyone. Write that down.

The second half of the set focused on the more poppy, sunnier aspects of the band. “First Date” had crowds bouncing, “Fuck a Dog”  and “Happy Holidays, You Bastard” rounded up a campfire sing-along (only with moshing), and oft-forgotten cut “Man Overboard” sent many to the shoulders of their nearby accommodating boyfriends. New track “Ghost on the Dance Floor” was well-received, but given that hardly anyone’s heard the new album yet – it’s out September 27th, after all – nobody could really sing along. That wasn’t the case for the two-hit punch of “Josie” into “All the Small Things”, which closed out the initial set.

Photo by Lauren Guagno

Similar to Green Day, there are aspects of a Blink-182 show that are a given. Since drummer Travis Barker is hands down the most musically proficient member of the group, it makes sense that he always takes a drum solo, which he took this time on “Give the Drummer Some”. Again, it’s expected, but it’s still a spectacle to unassuming fans. But that was not nearly as dazzling as the now three-hit sucker punch of “Carousel”, “Dammit”, and “Family Reunion”. Fans arrived at Cruzan looking for some high-quality pop punk, and they left with this stuck in their head: “Shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, tits, fart, turd, and twat.” What more could you ask for?

Photography by Phillip Roffman and Lauren Guagno.

Blink-182 Setlist:
Feeling This
Up All Night
The Rock Show
What’s My Age Again?
Down
I Miss You
Stay Together for the Kids
Dumpweed
Always
Violence
After Midnight
First Date
Fuck a Dog
Heart’s All Gone
Happy Holidays, You Bastard
Man Overboard
Ghost on the Dancefloor
All the Small Things
Josie
Encore:
Flying Drum Solo / Give the Drummer Some
Carousel
Dammit
Family Reunion
——

Gallery by Phillip Roffman and Lauren Guagno

[nggallery id=267]

Other notables acts include TV on the Radio, Social Distortion, Mastodon, Band of Horses, Ray Davies, The Original Meters, Dr. John and the Lower 911, OFWGKTA, Major Lazer, X, The Bloody Beetroots, A-Trak, Boots Electric, Cheap Trick, Violent Femmes’ Gordon Gano, and Kreayshawn.

Rounding out the bill are Ani DiFranco with Ivan Neville and Herlin Riley, Portugal. the Man, Mates of States, Keller Williams, Fitz and the Tantrums, The Wombats, The Limousines, Claude VonStroke, Cheeky Blakk, Ozomatli, City and Colour, DJ Z-Trip, Daedelus, MyNameIsJohnMicahael, Lee Burridge, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, and Givers. You can find the day-by-day breakdown here.

Three-day passes are priced at $150.00 and can be purchased via elevate.com. Also available are VIP packages with or without parking. You can find complete ticketing information here.

Blink-182′s first LP in eight years, Neighborhoods, hits stores on September 27th via Geffen. But right now, you can hear the 14-track effort in its entirety at KROQ.com.

Below, we have a stream for the killer track titled “Heart’s All Gone”, along with the album’s tracklist.

“Heart’s All Gone”

Neighborhoods Tracklist:
01. Ghost On The Dance Floor
02. Natives
03. Up All Night
04. After Midnight
05. Snake Charmer
06. Heart’s All Gone Interlude
07. Heart’s All Gone
08. Wishing Well
09. Kaleidoscope
10. This Is Home
11. Mh 4.18.2011
12. Love Is Dangerous
13. Fighting The Gravity
14. Even If She Falls

Blink-182‘s “Up All Night”, the first single from the trio’s upcoming sixth album Neighborhoods, was a blast of nostalgia from an era not-so-long gone. With “After Midnight”, the LP’s second single, the trip down memory lane continues. Premiering on Zane Lowe’s BBC Radio 1 show, the cut is more of Blink the last time we heard from the band: something decidedly epic with an intimate touch, an effort that highlights each member’s strengths (Tom DeLonge’s romantic verses, Mark Hoppus’ grand chorus, and Travis Barker’s bangin’ drum skills) to make for one fairly anthemic effort. As they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Check out the track below, or download your own copy via the band’s website.

Neighborhoods arrives in stores on September 27th via Geffen.

Blink-182 haven’t released an album in some eight years. So, when Neighborhoods‘ first single, “Up All Night”, premiered, it was a big deal, one that caused a mass swelling of nostalgia across the world.

Now that said track is ready to get the music video treatment, it only makes sense that it’d get two videos. The first, which debuted earlier this month, was comprised of unsanctioned fan clips the band put together into a montage as a way of saying thanks to their legions of followers. The second, slightly more official, debuted today and is available above. In it, the band trade the wacky antics of their fans for the wanton destruction of the greatest block party ever thrown. It’s nice to see that even after all these years, the boys still know how to behave like true hooligans.

Neighborhoods arrives in stores on September 27th via Geffen. We have the album’s tracklist below.

Neighborhoods Tracklist:
01. Ghost On The Dance Floor
02. A La Mode
03. This is Home
04. Snake Charmer
05. MH 4.18.2011
06. Even If She Falls
07. You Too
08. Up All Night
09. After Midnight
10. Natives
11. Kaleidoscope (Bonus)
12. Fighting The Gravity (Bonus)
13. Heart’s All Gone (Bonus)

At the kick-off of this year’s “Honda Civic Tour” over the weekend, Blink-182 offered our third and fourth preview of their forthcoming LP Neighborhoods. Below, you can watch decent-quality clips of the trio performing “After Midnight” and “Ghosts on the Dancefloor”. In clip two, the band warns fans against filming and putting the track online; obviously, no one paid attention.

“After Midnight”

“Ghosts on the Dancefloor”

We’ve already heard “Hearts All Gone” and “Up All Night”. The album itself will arrive September 27th via Geffen.

As for the rest of Blink’s upcoming tour dates, check them out below.

Blink-182 & My Chemical Romance 2011 Tour Dates:
08/09 – Boston, MA @ Comcast Center *
08/11 – Buffalo, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center *
08/12 – Washington, DC @ Jiffy Lube Live *
08/13 – Hershey, PA @ Hershey Park Pavilion *
08/14 – Hartford, CA @ The Comcast Theatre *
08/16 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre *
08/17 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Amphitheatre *
08/19 – St. Louis, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre *
08/20 – Chicago, IL @ First Midwest Bank Pavilion *
08/21 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center *
08/23 – Milwaukee, WI @ Marcus Amphitheater *
08/25 – Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre ^#
08/26 – Saskatoon, SK @ Credit Union Centre ^#
08/27 – Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place ^#
08/28 – Calgary, AB @ Saddledome ^#
08/30 – Victoria, BC @ Save-On Foods Memorial Centre ^#
08/31 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena ^#
09/01 – Seattle, WA @ White River Amphitheater ^
09/03 – Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheater ^
09/04 – Denver, CO @ Comfort Dental Amphitheater ^
09/07 – Minneapolis, MN @ Xcel Center %
09/08 – Des Moines, IA @ Wells Fargo Arena
09/09 – Kansas City, MO @ Sandstone Amphitheater %
09/10 – Indianapolis, IN@ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre %
09/11 – Detroit, MI @ DTE Energy Music Centre %
09/13 – Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Music Center %
09/15 – Pittsburgh, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion %
09/16 – Saratoga, NY @ SPAC %
09/17 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center %
09/18 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre %
09/20 – Charlotte, NC @ Charlotte Verizon Wireless Amphitheater %
09/21 – Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheater %
09/23 – Miami, FL @ Cruzan Amphitheater %
09/24 – Tampa, FL @ 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre %
09/26 – Houston, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion %
09/27 – Dallas, TX @ Gexa Energy Pavilion %
09/29 – Albuquerque, NM @ Journal Pavilion %
09/30 – Phoenix, AZ @ Tempe Beach Park Amphitheatre %
10/01 – Anahiem, CA @ Honda Center %
10/02 – Sacramento, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre %
10/04 – Concord, CA @ Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord %
10/05 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre %
10/07 – Las Vegas, NV @ Red Rock Resort, Spa & Casino %
10/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl %
10/15 – San Diego, CA @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre %
10/28-31 – New Orleans, VA @ Voodoo Experience

* = w/ Manchester Orchestra
^ = w/ Rancid
# = w/ Against Me!
% = w/ Matt & Kim

Our second taste from Blink-182′s latest LP Neighborhoods, check out “Hearts All Gone” below. It’s actually quite good.

And in case you missed it, here was the first taste in “Up All Night”. It wasn’t so good.

Neighborhoods arrives September 27th via Geffen.

Blink-182′s forthcoming LP Neighborhoods now has itself some artwork, which you can check above (via Absolute Punk).

As previously reported, the band’s sixth album, and first since 2003, is due for release September 27th via Geffen. Our first audio preview, “Up All Night”, can be heard below courtesy of a newly unveiled band-sanctioned, fan-made video.

Hey, everyone: Blink-182 is back! Sort of. If you’ve been reading your music news lately, you would know that Blink is kicking off a massive tour, promoting new material, and releasing singles. (I have to admit that “Up All Night” is cool, though it’s like Angels & Airwaves had a child with +44.). The best part of all this, however, is the aforementioned tour.

During my youth, and I don’t think I’m alone, Blink-182 was the band everyone loved or loved to hate. If you were the former, you had no problem sporting the t-shirts, trying to play pop-punk, and knowing all the words. If you were the latter, well, you talked a lot of shit, but still listened to Dude Ranch when your friends weren’t around. Nowadays, though, it seems that Blink-182 has evolved from everybody’s favorite punk band to something of a musical icon. It’s just a shame this isn’t 2002.

When Blink-182 toured years ago, they played oodles of their material, but in the recent years, they have focused on fresher tracks. Not that it matters, because when they do bust out the classics, the twentysomethings in the crowd go bonkers with nostalgia. But what about the oldies? Have they forgotten (or not realized) 1994′s Cheshire Cat is an amazing achievement? Fans will no doubt attend their shows and go hoarse singing along, but that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t want to hear “M+M’s”.

10. “Anthem”

“Anthem II” is still played in Blink-182’s sets quite regularly, and rightfully so, as it was a sign of them maturing as a band. But “Anthem” is a call to teenage rebellion and fighting for your right to party. This song embodied the spirit of Blink-182 in their prime (waiting for girls to have sex with you, Dad yelling at the band, etc.), and it’s something they can’t shake from their reputation. When Blink broke up, they “left the kids to carry on,” and we’re still here… so, they should play “Anthem” for old time’s sake.

9. “What Went Wrong”

This pseudo B-side signaled a change in the band’s mentality. It’s when everybody realized Blink-182 wanted to get serious. “What Went Wrong” is the secret, acoustic track about an unraveling relationship on the yellow edition of Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, sung by Tom DeLonge and featuring what I believe is a clarinet solo. Live, you can imagine the emotional power that would go into the track from DeLonge, as the band already exerts enough energy when playing fast-paced punk. It’s the kind of song you hold up a lighter for and realize just how sick you are of sappy love songs on the today’s radio.

8. “Touchdown Boy”

In the video above, people are stage diving to the song about a sex-driven jock. Today, the reaction would probably be the same, but it would have a little more meaning. While the subject matter is still something the youth experiences today, the chords are more powerful because they probably haven’t been played live in roughly over a decade. Modern Blink could probably tear the fast-paced gem a new asshole. Bonus points if they do the fake sports commentary and turn it into something new and hilarious.

7. “Enthused”

It’s not enough that the opening to this song is uber-triumphant. That alone would be enough to send the crowd into a circle pit frenzy. But it’s the sing-along at the start that would rule. “Am I strung out/crazy or not allowed/to be the one/who gets stupid over you?” No doubt that the Blink fan base would be screaming while Blink revisits the Dude Ranch days. Plus, I’m sure everybody, including Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge, would scream in unison, “Maybe you’re just on CRACK!”

6. “Toast and Bananas”

Not only a timeless breakfast but a Blink-182 fan favorite. “Toast and Bananas” was the song to blast when you were trying to forget your recent AIM breakup, but now it would be a live experience worth seeing. There’s a guitar solo that DeLonge could surely beef up these days. Plus, the tempo is so quick, the circle pit would not just get stirred but come to a high boil.

5. “Time”

“Time” is so obscure that there aren’t even any YouTube videos. It’s the only remotely ska number the band ever had, with a happy-go-lucky intro (note the upstrokes). Although it’s a long-lost track from their demo (1993′s Buddha), the happy ska tune would certainly bring out the skanking audience. The other thing is that it’s the only Buddha song (other than “Carousel”) that would still hold up for today’s audience. Yeah, it might not be their most cherished jam, but it sure would be nice to know that Blink-182 gets as nostalgic about their own music as their fans do.

4. “Mutt”

Although “Mutt” was never released as a single, most longtime Blink fans probably consider it one. Due to its use in American Pie, “Mutt” has remained in the front of the Blink-182 catalog since ’99. For nostalgic purposes, it would be great to hear “Mutt” these days, especially because everybody knows the words. And the united crowd singing about bike seats and shaving would be a riot. If only everybody still cherished Jason Biggs this much.

3. “Story of a Lonely Guy”

Here’s another song that marked a shift in the band’s direction. Tom DeLonge began to use stylistic effects on his guitar, and the lyrics weren’t about erections and lackluster relationships. People probably don’t realize that when they blindly chant alongside “I Miss You”, but this song could easily be slipped into their setlists without people necessarily batting an eye at its significance. You better believe, though, that everyone will still know the words and will hold a light or spark something else to this song.

2. “Dick Lips”

“Dick Lips” was Blink-182’s call to stand up for yourself against unimaginable foes: your parents. The song still stands out as one of their most triumphant, and that kind of energy would certainly be appreciated nowadays. If you have ever heard the version off 2000′s The Mark, Tom and Travis Show, you know that Hoppus and DeLonge harmonize on the lead-up to the chorus, which certainly adds to the dramatic tension of the song. Now, picture it live: people anticipating every line and then Travis Barker rolling into that chorus on the drums. That’s a mosh pit you want to be in–and a sing-along you should partake in.

1. “M+M’s”

Aside from staple fan favorite “Carousel”, “M+M’s” seems to be the other Cheshire Cat track that sticks out in most fans’ heads. Its simple lyrics, stupid word play (Hoppus rhymes “car” with “Madagascar”), and insanely catchy guitar intro are the epitome of what Blink-182 has always been about. Nowadays, their ability to play has become more fine-tuned, and there is no doubt they could do this song a whole new justice. Also, the lyrics are so basic that almost everyone in the crowd would be screaming along with the band (while pogoing, of course). Bottom line: If Blink-182 played this song today, it would bring the house down and show that they still know how to truly connect with their audience.

Honorable Mentions: “Degenerate” (Blink’s semi-rap song), “Wendy Clear” (“And I play with a nuclear device…”), and “Lemmings” (“the best non-penis Blink song”).

While some of you were getting your chill waves on scorching in Chi-city (expect our complete report in the coming hours), new singles from Blink-182 and Red Hot Chili Peppers were leaking, Rilo Kiley were announcing their demise, and we were writing more stories about Radiohead than there are suitable replacements for the word “blow job.” Confused? Well, the post-Pitchfork Music Festival recap is yours to check out below:

– The Top 10 mp3s of the week.

– Rilo Kiley are still broken up.

– The Black Keys are already done with their next album.

– Help Stephen Malkmus find a better word than “blow job.”

– Stream Nathan Fake and Mark Pritchard’s King of Limbs remixes.

– James Murphy and Reggie Watts could be teaming up for a new single.

– Lil Wayne‘s long-delayed Tha Carter IV may have finally found itself a release date.

– Inspired by their recent work with Clive Deamer, we detailed Radiohead‘s collaborative history.

– Check out Blink-182′s first song in a half decade, “Up All Night”. It’s off their new album Neighborhoods.

– Also check out “The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie”, the first single from Red Hot Chili Peppers’ 10th LP I’m With You.

– Remember Radiohead‘s surprise Glastonbury performance? It can now be viewed in a multi-angle, 720p quality video format, complete with mastered audio.

For the rest of us, the cusp of new millennium summers got buttoned on June 1st, 1999, by a record that still makes me feel half my own age: Blink-182′s porn star-garnished Enema of the State.

After switching from drummer Scott Raynor to the now-infamous percussion devastator Travis Barker, Blink-182 set out to follow up 1997′s Dude Ranch with something cleaner in production, yet still marked by a staple pop-punk cacophony. The end result landed this trio of immature rockers three major singles (“What’s My Age Again?”, “All the Small Things”, and “Adam’s Song”) and a mainstream fan base that would soon thrust summer pop music into blessings (the peak of ska and swing revivals) and curses (think Len, Sugar Ray, etc.) for what felt like forever and a day.

The question surrounding Blink’s pending album, and first in eight years, is identical to that which Enema of the State posits now: Is Blink-182 still relevant? Dusting ‘Em Off articles tend to serve an educational purpose, and unlike revisiting a vinyl I wasn’t originally around to witness, this piece is a retrospective for me as well as a prompt exposition for you. What is there to be gleaned from this era in music, and furthermore, why bother dusting this CD off at all? Sheer nostalgia cannot be the only purpose, can it?

Maybe this is a plug for readership? Nah, surely we jest. What’s our age again?

Blink-182 has, to my knowledge, rarely ever been meant to be taken seriously (though “Adam’s Song” could be considered a slight deviation from the norm). Enema of the State makes me want to prank call the bar 15 minutes from my house, and it makes me want to crank a stereo and make out with a fat and easy emo chick (in all fairness, she’d probably prefer a HIM track or two); on the flip side, it also reminds me that my senior-year song was “Graduation” by Vitamin C, and that makes me want to punch something (“Break Stuff”, anyone?).

“Aliens Exist” is a kids’ song for teenagers, “Going Away to College” would be right at home on any soundtrack to a coming-of-age teen comedy (like, say, how “Mutt” was used brilliantly in 1999′s American Pie, which the band actually cameo’ed in), “Dumpweed” is a great tune to play for those times you wish you could get your girlfriend to roll over, and don’t even get me started on the implicit self-deprecating innuendo of “All the Small Things”. Face it, you cannot listen to this CD without smirking to yourself a little bit–that shit-eating grin that people don right before shaking up a beer can and launching foam all over their least-favorite, football-playing douche bag.

The benchmark for any great or classic record is timelessness. While I wouldn’t exactly place “The Party Song” or “Don’t Leave Me” alongside [insert obligatory Beatles title here], coming back to Enema of the State is like visiting your loser ex who took you to awesome concerts only to discover his/her acne has ceased to be and that they’re suddenly approachable again – you know, for old time’s sake.

It’s a lot like that, actually. Hmm…I should go and track down my little black book. Oh, behave!

Blink-182′s long-awaited sixth LP now has a title. Just hours after the band unleashed their first song in over a half-decade, “Up All Night”, bassist Mark Hoppus used his Google + account to announce that the album will be titled Neighborhoods, and is tentatively scheduled for release on September 27th. In related news, someone actually understands how to make Google + useful.

Below, you can figure out when and where you’ll be seeing Blink when they launch their co-headlining tour with My Chemical Romance next month.

Blink-182 & My Chemical Romance 2011 Tour Dates:
08/05 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Band Arts Center *
08/06 – Wantagh, NY @ Nikon Theatre at Jones Beach *
08/07 – Wantagh, NY @ Nikon Theatre at Jones Beach
08/09 – Boston, MA @ Comcast Center *
08/11 – Buffalo, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center *
08/12 – Washington, DC @ Jiffy Lube Live *
08/13 – Hershey, PA @ Hershey Park Pavilion *
08/14 – Hartford, CA @ The Comcast Theatre *
08/16 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre *
08/17 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Amphitheatre *
08/19 – St. Louis, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre *
08/20 – Chicago, IL @ First Midwest Bank Pavilion *
08/21 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center *
08/23 – Milwaukee, WI @ Marcus Amphitheater *
08/25 – Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre ^#
08/26 – Saskatoon, SK @ Credit Union Centre ^#
08/27 – Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place ^#
08/28 – Calgary, AB @ Saddledome ^#
08/30 – Victoria, BC @ Save-On Foods Memorial Centre ^#
08/31 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena ^#
09/01 – Seattle, WA @ White River Amphitheater ^
09/03 – Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheater ^
09/04 – Denver, CO @ Comfort Dental Amphitheater ^
09/07 – Minneapolis, MN @ Xcel Center %
09/08 – Des Moines, IA @ Wells Fargo Arena
09/09 – Kansas City, MO @ Sandstone Amphitheater %
09/10 – Indianapolis, IN@ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre %
09/11 – Detroit, MI @ DTE Energy Music Centre %
09/13 – Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Music Center %
09/15 – Pittsburgh, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion %
09/16 – Saratoga, NY @ SPAC %
09/17 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center %
09/18 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre %
09/20 – Charlotte, NC @ Charlotte Verizon Wireless Amphitheater %
09/21 – Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheater %
09/23 – Miami, FL @ Cruzan Amphitheater %
09/24 – Tampa, FL @ 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre %
09/26 – Houston, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion %
09/27 – Dallas, TX @ Gexa Energy Pavilion %
09/29 – Albuquerque, NM @ Journal Pavilion %
09/30 – Phoenix, AZ @ Tempe Beach Park Amphitheatre %
10/01 – Anahiem, CA @ Honda Center %
10/02 – Sacramento, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre %
10/04 – Concord, CA @ Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord %
10/05 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre %
10/07 – Las Vegas, NV @ Red Rock Resort, Spa & Casino %
10/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl %
10/15 – San Diego, CA @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre %
10/28-31 – New Orleans, VA @ Voodoo Experience

* = w/ Manchester Orchestra
^ = w/ Rancid
# = w/ Against Me!
% = w/ Matt & Kim

Here’s a fun fact: Blink-182′s last single dates back to 2005 and even then that was for a greatest hits compilation. No, not since 2004′s synth-heavy “Always” have we heard a genuine single from the California trio. That changes today. Finally, after a year’s worth of touring under their belt, Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, and Travis Barker return with “Up All Night”, tearing us all back to the early ’00s, when we weren’t wearing flannel and/or the latest hip shirt from Urban Outfitters, and instead were trending Vans and/or the latest hip shirt from PacSun. Oh, nostalgia’s great, for sure, and admittedly so is this track. Too bad my mother’s a nutbar; otherwise, I’d swing by the ol’ house and grab my faded Blink T, no doubt still dangling in the closet. #regrets

Update: Blink-182′s new album will be titled Neighborhoods, and is tentatively scheduled for release on September 27th.

World premiere via KROQ.

Blink-182 & My Chemical Romance 2011 Tour Dates:
08/05 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Band Arts Center *
08/06 – Wantagh, NY @ Nikon Theatre at Jones Beach *
08/07 – Wantagh, NY @ Nikon Theatre at Jones Beach
08/09 – Boston, MA @ Comcast Center *
08/11 – Buffalo, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center *
08/12 – Washington, DC @ Jiffy Lube Live *
08/13 – Hershey, PA @ Hershey Park Pavilion *
08/14 – Hartford, CA @ The Comcast Theatre *
08/16 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre *
08/17 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Amphitheatre *
08/19 – St. Louis, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre *
08/20 – Chicago, IL @ First Midwest Bank Pavilion *
08/21 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center *
08/23 – Milwaukee, WI @ Marcus Amphitheater *
08/25 – Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre ^#
08/26 – Saskatoon, SK @ Credit Union Centre ^#
08/27 – Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place ^#
08/28 – Calgary, AB @ Saddledome ^#
08/30 – Victoria, BC @ Save-On Foods Memorial Centre ^#
08/31 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena ^#
09/01 – Seattle, WA @ White River Amphitheater ^
09/03 – Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheater ^
09/04 – Denver, CO @ Comfort Dental Amphitheater ^
09/07 – Minneapolis, MN @ Xcel Center %
09/08 – Des Moines, IA @ Wells Fargo Arena
09/09 – Kansas City, MO @ Sandstone Amphitheater %
09/10 – Indianapolis, IN@ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre %
09/11 – Detroit, MI @ DTE Energy Music Centre %
09/13 – Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Music Center %
09/15 – Pittsburgh, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion %
09/16 – Saratoga, NY @ SPAC %
09/17 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center %
09/18 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre %
09/20 – Charlotte, NC @ Charlotte Verizon Wireless Amphitheater %
09/21 – Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheater %
09/23 – Miami, FL @ Cruzan Amphitheater %
09/24 – Tampa, FL @ 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre %
09/26 – Houston, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion %
09/27 – Dallas, TX @ Gexa Energy Pavilion %
09/29 – Albuquerque, NM @ Journal Pavilion %
09/30 – Phoenix, AZ @ Tempe Beach Park Amphitheatre %
10/01 – Anahiem, CA @ Honda Center %
10/02 – Sacramento, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre %
10/04 – Concord, CA @ Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord %
10/05 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre %
10/07 – Las Vegas, NV @ Red Rock Resort, Spa & Casino %
10/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl %
10/15 – San Diego, CA @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre %
10/28-31 – New Orleans, VA @ Voodoo Experience

* = w/ Manchester Orchestra
^ = w/ Rancid
# = w/ Against Me!
% = w/ Matt & Kim

Each week, Cluster 1′s Sami Jarroush provides a video recap of the week’s biggest headlines. This week, Jarroush discusses Gil Scott-Heron’s tragic death, Trent Reznor and Karen O.’s cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song”, new albums from Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks and The Rapture, Blink-182′s upcoming summer tour, and the 2011 lineup for Rock the Bells.

Please be sure to check out all the other goodness posted on Cluster 1, featuring over 30 music videos, several short films, and other nifty clips, all crammed together in one non-stop barrage of visual and aural stimulation. Also friend us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. It’ll be worth your while.

Gil Scott-Heron dies at age 62, Trent Reznor and Karen O cover Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song,” Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks releasing a new album, The Rapture releasing a new album, Blink-182 and My Chemical Romance announce tour dates and information on the Rock the Bells festival.

Hosted & Edited by: Sami Jarroush

Read the stories here:

• R.I.P. Gil Scott-Heron
• Check Out: Trent Reznor and Karen O. cover Led Zeppelin
• Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks announce Beck-produced album, Mirror Traffic
• The Rapture announces new album, In The Grace Of Your Love
• Blink-182 teams up with My Chemical Romance for massive 2011 tour
• Lauryn Hill, Nas, Black Star head Rock the Bells 2011

In a recent interview with KROQ, Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker revealed that the band’s first new album in eight years will be hitting stores this summer. Around that same time, the band will team up with My Chemical Romance for the 10th annual Honda Civic Tour. The two-month venture kicks off August 5th in Holmdel, NJ and features Rancid, Matt & Kim, Against Me!, and Manchester Orchestra rotating support slots.

After spending the first half of August trekking up and down the East coast, Blink and co. will head west, hitting Chicago, Cincinnati, and Milwaukee before closing out the month with a slew of western Canadian dates. The tour kicks off September in Seattle and then heads back to the Midwest for dates in Denver, Indianapolis, Detroit, and  Cleveland. Finally, after double dipping in both Florida and Texas, the festivities will cap off with seven dates in California, ending October 15th in San Diego. Find all the specifics below.

A fan pre-sale will begin June 6th with a public on-sale following on Friday, June 11th via Ticketmaster and Live Nation. According to Billboard, ticket prices will start at $20.

Blink-182 & My Chemical Romance 2011 Tour Dates:
08/05 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Band Arts Center *
08/06 – Wantagh, NY @ Nikon Theatre at Jones Beach *
08/07 – Wantagh, NY @ Nikon Theatre at Jones Beach
08/09 – Boston, MA @ Comcast Center *
08/11 – Buffalo, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center *
08/12 – Washington, DC @ Jiffy Lube Live *
08/13 – Hershey, PA @ Hershey Park Pavilion *
08/14 – Hartford, CA @ The Comcast Theatre *
08/16 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre *
08/17 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Amphitheatre *
08/19 – St. Louis, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre *
08/20 – Chicago, IL @ First Midwest Bank Pavilion *
08/21 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center *
08/23 – Milwaukee, WI @ Marcus Amphitheater *
08/25 – Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre ^#
08/26 – Saskatoon, SK @ Credit Union Centre ^#
08/27 – Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place ^#
08/28 – Calgary, AB @ Saddledome ^#
08/30 – Victoria, BC @ Save-On Foods Memorial Centre ^#
08/31 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena ^#
09/01 – Seattle, WA @ White River Amphitheater ^
09/03 – Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheater ^
09/04 – Denver, CO @ Comfort Dental Amphitheater ^
09/07 – Minneapolis, MN @ Xcel Center %
09/08 – Des Moines, IA @ Wells Fargo Arena
09/09 – Kansas City, MO @ Sandstone Amphitheater %
09/10 – Indianapolis, IN@ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre %
09/11 – Detroit, MI @ DTE Energy Music Centre %
09/13 – Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Music Center %
09/15 – Pittsburgh, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion %
09/16 – Saratoga, NY @ SPAC %
09/17 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center %
09/18 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre %
09/20 – Charlotte, NC @ Charlotte Verizon Wireless Amphitheater %
09/21 – Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheater %
09/23 – Miami, FL @ Cruzan Amphitheater %
09/24 – Tampa, FL @ 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre %
09/26 – Houston, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion %
09/27 – Dallas, TX @ Gexa Energy Pavilion %
09/29 – Albuquerque, NM @ Journal Pavilion %
09/30 – Phoenix, AZ @ Tempe Beach Park Amphitheatre %
10/01 – Anahiem, CA @ Honda Center %
10/02 – Sacramento, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre %
10/04 – Concord, CA @ Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord %
10/05 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre %
10/07 – Las Vegas, NV @ Red Rock Resort, Spa & Casino %
10/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl %
10/15 – San Diego, CA @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre %

* = w/ Manchester Orchestra
^ = w/ Rancid
# = w/ Against Me!
% = w/ Matt & Kim