East Bay-based "4th Wave" Ska Punk Band Jokes for Feelings Let Loose "Sweet Song" from Too Much Too Hipster EP (Coming January 2018)

Jokes for Feelings are an East Bay-area Ska Punk band consisting of drummer Tony Acosta, vocalist/keyboardist/violinist/guitar player Bill Raphael, trombonist and back-up vocalist Allie Miller, bass player Dave Garcia, trombonist Noah Ortiz, sax player Michael Booker, and guitarist and back-up vocalist Josh Raphael. Jokes for Feelings regularly play gigs at 924 Gilman St. Alternative Music Foundation AKA "Gilman" in West Berkley, California. Throughout their brief, yet plentiful career, the "4th Wave" Ska band's members have played with Punk/Hardcore luminaries such as The Ramones' 1989-96 bassist C.J. Ramone, Agent Orange, Mike Watt of The Stooges and Minutemen fame, Voodoo Glow Skulls, The Specials (Roddy Radiation & Neville Staple,) The Aggrolites, and Guttermouth. Since forming in 2006, Jokes for Feelings have self-released three EP's—One of Us Sucks, Sleeping Giant, and We Don't Need Your Label Anyways—and one full-length album, 2014's The Island of Pissed Off Toyz; the band’s tracks have been featured on various esteemed Punk Rock/Ska compilations including Gilman Ska Night Comp. Vol. 1-2, Hellcat Records & Smelvis Records Presents... Dale la Bota (Give 'em The Boot,) and California Love on Quote Your Pulse Records.

"We have always been a DIY band, never been on labels, and put out all our own shows, records, events, merch, and artwork. We have been heavily involved in the Ska scene up here and love finding great bands to play our music with," guitarist and vocalist Josh Raphael detailed within a recent press release. Jokes for Feelings list Nuclear Rabbit, NOFX, Blue Meanies, Agent Orange, and Assorted Jelly Beans amongst their greatest sources of influence. Although, to my well-trained Punk/Hardcore and likely damaged ears, Jokes for Feelings' latest single, "Sweet Songs" sounds something more to the effect of now-defunct Motion City Soundtrack, Less Than Jake, 2 Tone Ska, and 1980's Hardcore pioneers Bad Religion. "Sweet Song" stems from Jokes for Feelings' upcoming and wonderfully-titled Too Much Too Hipster EP, which is expected to be released on 7-inch vinyl (2 songs/side) and across digital platforms in early 2018. "As the title suggests, the track is a mid-tempo, feel-good Ska romp punctuated by lively brass about "stage fright and following your dreams,'" the press release continued. Jokes for Feelings' next gig is Sunday, January 14th at 924 Gilman in support of MUSTARD PLUG with Buck-O-Nine, Neverlyn, and Honey Orbison. It's being billed as a proper "Record Release [Show] of Too Much Too Hipster EP" and is an ALL AGES show with a $15 COVER + $2 MEMBERSHIP, DOORS AT 4:30PM.

"Let Me Shine for You:" Lindsay Lohan for Playboy (Winter 2011-12 Leak)

Lindsay Lohan essentially embodies exactly "What NOT to Do In Hollywood :" Fame, fortune, success... sex, drugs & Rock "N" Roll . Within a fairly short period of time, Lohan somehow managed to obtain a plentiful helping of POWER @ a very young age. This gradual rise-downfall was captured on film; Between 1998-2010, she portrayed a wide array of roles across the silver screen in movies including: Mean Girls, Bobby , Herbie Fully Loaded , Georgia Rule, Machete , and Freaky Friday . Between rapid-paced film shoots, Lindsay Lohan also found time to record 2 Pop Rock albums for Casablanca , Speak (2004) and A Litter More Personal-Raw (2005). Needless to say, Lindsay Lohan has gotten roped up in a lot of troubles and woes with the law over the last 3-5 years... a vicious cycle of drugs, arrest, court, rehab, "daddy issues," jail time [Repeat]. That's the pure basics of it - But Google that shit for additional info, if necessary. Towards the end of...

[W]reckless, Topless American Youth: Lana del Rey - "Born 2 Die" (Britney Spears Birthday 30)

Lana del Rey [Lizzy Grant] effectively became 2011's "It Girl" with the release of her phenomenal debut single, "Video Games" (Stranger) . Like many struggling singer-songwriters, Grant has been signed, dropped, and significantly changed her public image since bursting onto the scene (2009). With that said, it can be assumed that Lana del Rey has collected just as many "haters" as she has avid supporters. To be perfectly honest, the only other artist I can think of that made this much commotion... garnered so much wide-spread buzz/hate and critical acclaim -- right out of the gates -- with just one track is Britney Spears . And maybe in this post- Mike musical era, that's the true synthesis of Pop Culture: Britney Lynn Spears . After months of repeated teasing and speculation, Lana del Rey 's major label debut, Born 2 Die will [finally] be released this coming Jan. 30-31, 2012. Pitchfork reports that it will feature "Off to The Ra...

Liberty Bell Cracked In 1/2: Ween - "Freedom of '76" (Gene Ween's Final Send-Off)

Chocolate & Cheese (1994) was one of the first albums I bought with my own money. I was in some sort of BMG Music Club , where you'd buy 5 CD's and then get 10 for "FREE." It was all sent through mail order and you picked the titles from some special booklet. I'm almost positive that Chocolate & Cheese's side boob-baring album cover was what initially drew me in... mind you, I was 12-15 and the zany Ween logo/middle finger CD graphic really didn't hurt either. Honestly, I forget how I really felt about it @ the time, but a few years later, my older cousin Josh told me that Ween were this BIG college "jam band." CKY did some sort pf 93.3 radio takeover to promote their new album and played "Freedom of '76" late that night on air. Needless to say, I re-visited Chocolate & Cheese @ about 20-something this go 'round and I fucking loved it! Ween were really weird, yet talented... almost too talented. I can vaguel...

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