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15 Great Albums by the Same Band—With Different Lead Singers

Eric Alper
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15 Great Albums by the Same Band—With Different Lead Singers

Sometimes a band changes its singer—and the whole world tilts a little. One voice leaves, another arrives, and suddenly the same band sounds brand new. Here are 15 pairs of albums that prove lightning can strike twice.

AC/DC – Highway to Hell (Bon Scott) / Back in Black (Brian Johnson)
Tragedy didn’t stop the thunder. Scott’s swagger met Johnson’s grit—and rock got a resurrection.
Alice in Chains – Dirt (Layne Staley) / Black Gives Way to Blue (William DuVall)
Staley’s haunting pain defined grunge’s soul, but DuVall carried that flame with reverence and renewal. The harmonies still ache, beautifully.
Black Sabbath – Paranoid (Ozzy Osbourne) / Heaven and Hell (Ronnie James Dio)
From doom-laden riffs to soaring metal opera — Ozzy’s menace met Dio’s majesty. Two singers, one unstoppable Sabbath.
Deep Purple – Fireball (Ian Gillan) / Burn (David Coverdale & Glenn Hughes)
Gillan’s screams were pure power; Coverdale and Hughes brought blues and soul. Every era burned hot in its own way.
Faith No More – Introduce Yourself (Chuck Mosley) / The Real Thing (Mike Patton)
Mosley gave it punk-funk grit; Patton gave it operatic chaos. Together they wrote the rules for weird, loud brilliance.
Fleetwood Mac – Then Play On (Peter Green) / Rumours (Stevie Nicks & Lindsey Buckingham)
From British blues heartbreak to California pop perfection—two bands, same name, both legends.
Genesis – Selling England by the Pound (Peter Gabriel) / A Trick of the Tail (Phil Collins)
Gabriel’s theatrical art-rock gave Genesis its mythic edge, while Collins brought pop precision without losing the prog heart. Two eras, both glorious.
Iron Maiden – Iron Maiden (Paul Di’Anno) / The Number of the Beast (Bruce Dickinson)
Di’Anno’s raw punk bite versus Dickinson’s operatic wail — the torch was passed, and heavy metal never looked back.
Joy Division / New Order – Unknown Pleasures (Ian Curtis) / Low-Life (Bernard Sumner)
Different names, same DNA. Curtis’ darkness gave way to Sumner’s synth light—melancholy evolved into dancefloor catharsis.
King Crimson – Red (John Wetton) / Discipline (Adrian Belew)
Wetton’s bass thunder defined the ‘70s; Belew’s avant-garde wizardry rebooted the band for the ‘80s. King Crimson never repeats itself—only reinvents.
Marillion – Misplaced Childhood (Fish) / Season’s End (Steve Hogarth)
Fish painted poetic despair; Hogarth offered cinematic emotion. Two eras of prog storytelling, both beautifully British.
Pink Floyd – The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (Syd Barrett) / The Dark Side of the Moon (David Gilmour)
Barrett’s psychedelia birthed a dream, Gilmour’s precision turned it into an empire. Two Pink Floyds, one universe of sound.
The Doobie Brothers – Toulouse Street (Tom Johnston) / Minute by Minute (Michael McDonald)
From boogie rock to smooth soul, they proved one band could own both the barroom and the yacht.
Van Halen – 1984 (David Lee Roth) / 5150 (Sammy Hagar)
Roth gave the band swagger and spandex; Hagar brought melody and maturity. Either way, Eddie’s guitar never missed a beat.
Yes – Close to the Edge (Jon Anderson) / Drama (Trevor Horn)
Anderson’s cosmic vocals gave way to Horn’s sharp pop sensibilities. Proof that prog could still groove in the ‘80s.



Yungblud Plots Explosive 2026 North American Tour, Hits Radio City and Red Rocks

Eric Alper
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Yungblud Plots Explosive 2026 North American Tour, Hits Radio City and Red Rocks

Following his sold-out North American tour, which wrapped last week, and a rousing performance of “Zombie” on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the internationally beloved and acclaimed rock star Yungblud has announced that he will be returning to North American shores in 2026 for a 24-date headline run. Starting on May 1st in Michigan, Yungblud and his band will be making stops across all major cities, including New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, Los Angeles’ Greek Theater, and many more on the Live Nation-promoted tour.

To participate in the Yungblud Artist Presale on Tuesday, October 7th, at 10 am local time, you must sign up at http://livemu.sc/yungblud by Sunday, October 5th, at 11:59 pm EST. Artist Presales for this tour are hosted by multiple ticketing sites, but anyone who signs up can join the sale. For Artist Presales on Ticketmaster, no code is needed – access is tied to your account. Artist Presales hosted on other sites may require a code for access. General on-sale begins Wednesday, October 8th, at 10 am local time. For more information, go to: http://www.yungbludofficial.com.

This announcement follows an incredible year for the award-winning artist, who recently performed a powerful tribute to his idol and friend Ozzy Osbourne at the MTV Video Music Awards. Earlier this month, he also announced a new collaborative EP, One More Time, with rock legends Aerosmith, set for release on November 21st. The first single from the EP is “My Only Angel,” has debuted on Billboard’s “Hot Hard Rock Songs Charts” and is out now across all platforms.

Earlier this year, Yungblud released his fourth studio album IDOLS on Locomotion/Capitol Records, which featured fan favourite tracks including the epic nine-minute opener “Hello Heaven, Hello” and the heart-wrenching rock ballad “Zombie,” written for his late grandmother who died from alcoholism. The official music video, described as a “love letter to nurses around the world,” stars Academy Award-nominated Florence Pugh.

This summer saw the U.K. and European theatrical release of his critically acclaimed feature-length documentary film, directed by acclaimed EMMY and BAFTA Award-winning Paul Dugdale. North American plans for the film to be revealed soon.

Tour Dates:

05/01 – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre – Sterling Heights, MI
05/02 – Coca-Cola Coliseum – Toronto, ON
05/04 – KEMBA Live! – Outdoor Amphitheater – Columbus, OH*
05/06 – The Andrew J Brady Music Center – Cincinnati, OH
05/07 – Everwise Amp at White River – Indianapolis, IN
05/09 – The Armory – Minneapolis, MN
05/11 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
05/13 – UCCU Center – Orem, UT
05/15 – WAMU Theater – Seattle, WA
05/16 – Theater Of The Clouds – Portland, OR
05/19 – PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino – Las Vegas, NV
05/20 – The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park – San Diego, CA
05/22 – Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
05/25 – Arizona Financial Theatre – Phoenix, AZ
05/28 – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory – Irving, TX
05/29 – Moody Amphitheater – Austin, TX
06/01 – Addition Financial Arena – Orlando, FL
06/02 – Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood – Hollywood, FL
06/04 – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre – Charlotte, NC
06/06 – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena – Atlantic City, NJ
06/07 – The Anthem – Washington, DC
06/09 – Leader Bank Pavilion – Boston, MA
06/10 – Radio City Music Hall – New York, NY
06/13 – Synovus Bank Amphitheater – Atlanta, GA
*Not A Live Nation Date

Tim McGraw Saddles Up for ‘Live in Vegas’ Shows at The Colosseum

Eric Alper
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Tim McGraw Saddles Up for ‘Live in Vegas’ Shows at The Colosseum

Tim McGraw is set to headline a limited engagement at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace this December during the National Finals Rodeo. Tim McGraw: Live in Vegas will take place on December 4, 6, 12, and 13.

These special, only-in-Las Vegas shows will offer fans a rare chance to experience McGraw perform in an intimate setting, featuring his chart-topping hits and fan favorites spanning more than 30 years of his celebrated career.

A longtime Rodeo supporter, McGraw recently brought the first-ever rodeo to Nashville with the inaugural Music City Rodeo. He released a heartfelt single performed live at the event “King Rodeo (Live from the Inaugural Music City Rodeo).”

McGraw recently made history as he played the first-ever concert at the site where the iconic movie Field of Dreams was filmed in Dyersville, Iowa. With over 35,000 tickets sold, fans flocked to Dyersville, Iowa, for an unforgettable celebration of music, baseball, cinematic nostalgia, and American culture.

JOHNNYSWIM Unveil Deluxe ‘When The War Is Over’ With Anthony Ramos Collab “Stranger”

Eric Alper
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JOHNNYSWIM Unveil Deluxe ‘When The War Is Over’ With Anthony Ramos Collab “Stranger”

Husband-and-wife duo JOHNNYSWIM (Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano Ramirez) release the deluxe edition of their acclaimed fifth studio album When The War Is Over, featuring five new tracks including the powerful “Stranger,” a collaboration with Grammy Award-winning actor and recording artist Anthony Ramos (Hamilton, In the Heights). The release arrives just ahead of the couple’s October headline tour, which will take them across the Midwest, East Coast, and Southeast.

“Stranger” is the second of two new songs co-written with Ramos for the deluxe release – following the intimate ballad “Losing You” – and the only track on which he also joins Abner and Amanda on vocals. Written by Abner Ramirez, Amanda Sudano Ramirez, and Ramos, and produced, mixed, and mastered by Jonathan Grant Berlin, “Stranger” captures the intimacy and intensity of love’s hardest moments.

“‘Stranger’ is a song we wrote and had the joy of performing with Anthony Ramos,” JOHNNYSWIM shared. “It captures a moment every couple faces – when, after being together long enough or intensely enough, there can be times when you suddenly feel like you’re looking at a stranger. In those moments of conflict or hard conversations, it’s a reminder to say: I’m still the person who loves you, and we’re still on the same team. Even when it feels like we’re strangers, ‘I’m on your side, baby.'”

The release carries a deeply personal resonance. The duo first experienced Ramos on stage during the original Broadway run of Hamilton, an encounter that left them profoundly moved – and led to a chance meeting with Ramos’ family outside the theater that felt like fate. A year later, Ramos posted a cover of one of JOHNNYSWIM’s songs on Instagram, sparking a friendship that’s since grown into a lasting personal and creative bond. Ramos even joined JOHNNYSWIM on stage last week at The Fonda in Los Angeles to debut “Stranger” live.

The deluxe edition also features “Sweet Tangerine,” “Break My Heart (A Song For The Lodge),” and “Who’s Gonna Love Me” – the latter a fan-favorite from the archives, originally written in 2010 with Britten Newbill, revisited for its timeless tone and poignant simplicity. Together, the expanded project deepens JOHNNYSWIM’s mix of Americana, folk rock, blues, and soul while offering an intimate window into love, loss, resilience, and renewal.

Looking ahead, JOHNNYSWIM will hit the road for a fall headline tour, return with special December holiday shows, and join the inaugural Moon River At Sea Sixthman cruise in 2026.

JOHNNYSWIM 2025 Headline Tour
Sep 25 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda
Oct 2 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
Oct 3 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
Oct 4 – Kansas City, MO – The Truman
Oct 6 – Des Moines, IA – Hoyt Sherman
Oct 7 – Milwaukee, WI – Turner Ballroom
Oct 8 – Grand Rapids, MI – 20 Monroe
Oct 10 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
Oct 11 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
Oct 13 – Portsmouth, NH – The Music Hall
Oct 14 – Hartford, CT – Infinity Hall
Oct 16 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
Oct 17 – Richmond, VA – The National
Oct 18 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
Oct 20 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues
Oct 21 – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre
Oct 23 – Athens, GA – Georgia Theatre
Oct 24 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City
Oct 25 – Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle

JOHNNYSWIM December Dates
Dec 6 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap
Dec 8 – Bethlehem, PA – Musikfest Cafe
Dec 9 – Pittsburgh, PA – Roxian Theatre
Dec 11 – Wilmington, NC – Kenan Auditorium
Dec 12 – Chattanooga, TN – The Walker Theatre
Dec 13 – Charleston, SC – The Riviera Theater

XG Named Global Ambassador for Casio’s G-SHOCK Brand

Eric Alper
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XG Named Global Ambassador for Casio’s G-SHOCK Brand

Today, Casio America, Inc. announced the appointment of the internationally acclaimed hip hop / R&B girl group, XG, as the global ambassador for the G-SHOCK brand of shock-resistant watches.

Known for its bold music and powerful performances, XG consists of seven members; JURIN, CHISA, HINATA, HARVEY, JURIA, MAYA, and COCONA. The name XG stands for “Xtraordinary Girls,” reflecting their commitment to empowering people from all walks of life around the world through a genre-defying style that breaks conventions. With a strong global following, especially among younger people, XG is rising as a new force in international music and culture.

Having pioneered a new music genre called “X-Pop,” XG is breaking away from the conventions of J-Pop and K-Pop to create a style of their own. This spirit of originality and strength closely aligns with G-SHOCK, a unique brand known for its toughness, shock resistance, and distinctive design — making XG a natural choice as the brand’s global ambassador.

To celebrate the partnership, a special website will showcase key visuals and a promotional video featuring XG. Centered around the slogan “No Destination,” the video portrays XG boldly stepping into a new world with G-SHOCK, expressing the strength to shape one’s future without fear or hesitation. Art direction came from YAR, the creative team led by YOSHIROTTEN — one of Japan’s most promising rising artists — and delivered a bold and energetic visual experience.

 “G-SHOCK watches always remind us of how we never gave up on chasing our dreams, even when things got tough.” Said XG. “It gives us the courage to keep going and keep challenging ourselves. XG-SHOCK, let’s go!”

Additional key visuals and content will be released over time as G-SHOCK continues to share its world in collaboration with XG.


Flogging Molly Announce Salty Dog Cruise 2026 with Bad Religion, Frank Turner, and More

Eric Alper
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Flogging Molly Announce Salty Dog Cruise 2026 with Bad Religion, Frank Turner, and More

Flogging Molly and Sixthman, the leader in festivals and music cruises for more than two decades, are very happy to announce Flogging Molly’s Salty Dog Cruise 2026, sailing October 25-30, 2026, from Miami, FL to Cozumel, Mexico and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas aboard Norwegian Jewel.

First Round Presale Sign-Ups are available now through October 9 at 11:59 pm (ET). Final Round Presale Sign-Ups will conclude October 14 at 11:59 pm (ET). Public On-Sales begin October 16 at 2:00 pm (ET), exclusively at here.

Bookings are available for just $100 down per person when they make reservations before February 25, 2026, or while cabins last. Also, an Early Bird Perk program is available for all guests who book during the presale period. Guests who book during this period can save $100 per cabin.

Flogging Molly’s Salty Dog Cruise 2026 marks the first announced date for Flogging Molly following founding frontman Dave King’s illness earlier this year. Though Flogging Molly were forced to cancel all 2025 tour dates, the cruise sailed on as planned despite Dave and Bridget’s absence. Highlights of the sold-out voyage included Flogging Molly members performing a number of traditional Irish music sets as well as a very special Pool Deck “mega-medley” that saw members of other bands on the Salty Dog Cruise play once-in-a-lifetime covers of Flogging Molly songs and other punk rock favorites. The community of fans, cruisers, and artists came together and made the event unforgettable, and Dave and the band are excited to give back.

Thankfully, 2026 will once again see King and Flogging Molly hosting and headlining five days of non-stop music, mayhem, and unforgettable adventure as their beloved Flogging Molly’s Salty Dog Cruise charts a new course to Cozumel, Mexico, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s own paradise, Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas. Flogging Molly will be joined onboard by a hand-picked selection of all-star special guests, including Bad Religion, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, The Adicts, Lucero, Spiritual Cramp, Death of Guitar Pop, The Kilograms, Beans on Toast, Pi-ata Protest, The Rumjacks, The Crombies, Catbite, Hoist The Colors, The Inciters, and more to be announced. As always, Flogging Molly’s Salty Dog Cruise 2026 will offer a fully immersive vacation experience stacked with intimate live performances, unforgettable collaborations, curated activities, and so much more.

“Hey, Salty Dog 2026 shipmates – Bridget and I are really looking forward to seeing you all,” said Dave King. “It’s just what the doctor ordered!”

The Norwegian Jewel will feature all the amenities needed to make Flogging Molly’s Salty Dog Cruise 2026 the most energized and exciting adventure at sea imaginable, with fully stocked bars on (almost) every corner, tasty dining experiences, the Pool Deck (with multiple hot tubs), the Jewel Club Casino, Mandara Spa, Body Waves Fitness Center, Sports Court, and so much more.

Beyond the onboard experience, Salty Dog Cruisers will have the chance to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime shore excursion in Cozumel, Mexico (renowned for fantastic fishing, snorkeling, and diving opportunities, and exploring historic Mayan ruins) and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas (offering gorgeous white sand beaches, ideal for snorkeling and swimming with pigs). Please note: Shore excursions will not be available until 4-6 weeks prior to sailing. Cruisers will be able to book an excursion upon receipt of their official booking number.

Phish’s Page McConnell Releases Ambient New Solo Album ‘Something Will Land’

Eric Alper
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Phish’s Page McConnell Releases Ambient New Solo Album ‘Something Will Land’

Phish keyboardist Page McConnell has shared his fourth solo album, Something Will Land, available now digitally and on audiophile-grade black vinyl via his own Keyed Records. The album arrives alongside a revealing profile of McConnell by writer Grayson Haver Currin in GQ.

An exquisite space of ambient afterglow, Something Will Land feels as if Page McConnell simply slipped behind his instruments and waited to get lost, arriving at a place for settling in amid all the world’s ever-increasing entropy. The album – which features a striking cover image by renowned conceptual artist John Baldessari – arrives just four years after the poignant pandemic meditations of 2021’s Maybe We’re The Visitors, marking the shortest gap between McConnell’s solo LPs thus far. McConnell set to work on Something Will Land almost immediately after finishing Maybe We’re The Visitors, beginning the sessions with two seemingly elementary but absolutely essential breakthroughs. First, he reconfigured his Burlington, VT studio so that, for the first time, he was able to play, record, and engineer his piano pieces entirely by himself, with no one else in the room. McConnell then decided to blend the piano with a panoply of synthesizers after having portioned them in the past. Thus, he let himself be surrounded by electronic and acoustic sounds all at once, fully immersed in the instruments.

Each of the eight gorgeous instrumentals McConnell created for Something Will Land feels like a sculptural sanctuary, a hideaway from the hustle of life and the bustle of a band that is constantly busy reinventing itself. McConnell embedded beautiful little melodies amid these long-distance hums, anchors that give these drifts local gravity. “The Trees Were Blue” begins with a series of long, luminescent tones and scrambled signals, but, in the final third of this six-minute wonder, the piano marches triumphantly through the fog, as undaunted by the journey as a stranger’s smile. Elsewhere, “Mystery Meat” feels like an earthbound echo of Brian Eno’s Another Green World, while “Borrowed Scenery” is a piece of perpetual ascendance, McConnell’s rising piano line tugging at the wobbly drones that float beneath it.

Perhaps the most cohesive solo work of McConnell’s career, Something Will Land is a deep exhalation as the sun slips past the horizon at last, a welcome comedown to where the world slows just enough to notice how beautiful your surroundings have become.

PAGE MCCONNELL

SOMETHING WILL LAND

(Keyed Records)

Tracklist:

Side A

Amaranth

Borrowed Scenery

Something Will Land

Weightless

Side B

Mystery Meat

The Trees Were Blue

Octopi

Dropping In

Chicago Indie-Rockers Ax and The Hatchetmen Announce Debut Album ‘So Much to Tell You’ and Drop New Single ‘Oasis’

Eric Alper
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Chicago Indie-Rockers Ax and The Hatchetmen Announce Debut Album ‘So Much to Tell You’ and Drop New Single ‘Oasis’

Chicago indie-rockers Ax and The Hatchetmen return with the bursting love song “Oasis” — which, yes, does include references to the legendary Britpoppers — out now via Arista Records. The upbeat new single is the band’s first release since July’s Constant Change EP and arrives alongside the news that they will release their eagerly awaited debut album, So Much to Tell You, on October 24. See the full tracklist below.

The news follows the launch of Ax and The Hatchetmen’s U.S. headlining So Much to Tell You Tour, which will kick off Wednesday, October 22nd, with a sold-out home state gig in Urbana, Illinois, and runs deep into December. There will be a brief break this month as frontman Axel Ellis wraps up his tour with The Runarounds, the rock band at the center of the fictional Prime Video high school music drama series The Runarounds, in which he costars as Neil Crosby.

Mixing chiming indie rock, ’90s power-pop, and ’60s sensibilities, “Oasis” plays like pure joy. Lifted by breezy guitar, radiant horns, jaunty drums, and a chorus of backing “oohs,” Axel sings sweetly to the object of his affection: “You’re my only motivation, no hesitation / Are you hearin’ what I’m sayin’? / You’re like a cold drink of water, out in the desert / Oh girl, you’re my oasis.”

Axel spoke on the meaning behind the new single: “‘Oasis’ is about the person you’d give it all up for in a heartbeat. No matter what or how much you’ve got going on, you’re picking up the phone if they call. When you’re with them, all of your problems and stresses fall to the wayside. Maybe it’s not even a person, maybe it’s a passion or a place that makes you feel alive.”

“The band Oasis notably referenced lots of Beatles songs in their work,” he continued, “so with this one we had fun referencing both bands in the lyrics. The song to me is somewhat of a play on songwriting and love songs in general — the bridge starts with, ‘It’s all been done before,’ which speaks on the irony of trying to write a love song that feels new in a non-derivative way. If you haven’t found something that feels like your ‘oasis’ yet, I hope it comes your way soon.”

So Much to Tell You will also include some of the already fan-favorite songs heard on the Constant Change EP, a dizzy swirl of gritty garage-rock, psychedelic jangle, and jammy dynamism brought to life in part by storied producer Jake Sinclair (Panic! At The Disco, Weezer) who not only connected the group with their hero Albert Hammond Jr. of The Strokes for the explosive lead single “Blurry Lights,” but also helped source a long-lost Rivers Cuomo demo for the sunny, carefree cut “7×9.” Also joining the LP tracklist are the racing bliss bomb of an early single “Stay // Honestly” and “Hotel Room,” an infectious tune that captures the ache of long-distance romance (and whose lyrics give the album its title).

Following the release of Constant Change, the band sat down for in-depth chats with The Luna Collective and Melodic Mag, and also hit the road for a summer run supporting Fitz and the Tantrums on their Man on the Moon Tour. For their current headliner, Ax and The Hatchetmen are joined by a rotating cast of talented friends: Edgehill, Kids That Fly, Foxtide, Good Boy Daisy, and John-Robert. Tomorrow, October 4, they play the Mighty Roots Music Festival in Clarksdale, MS. Experience the band’s freewheeling live chemistry at a date below, and stay tuned for their first full-length statement, the fittingly titled So Much to Tell You.

Ax and The Hatchetmen, So Much to Tell You

  1. Track 1 
  2. “Flagstaff”
  3. “Love Songs”
  4. “7×9”
  5. Track 5
  6. “Oasis”
  7. “Blurry Lights” ft. Albert Hammond Jr.
  8. “Hotel Room”
  9. Track 9
  10. “Sunscreen”
  11. “Stay // Honestly” 
  12. Track 12

Ax and the Hatchetmen Live Dates 

Oct 04 – Clarksdale, MS @ Mighty Roots Music Festival

Oct 22 – Urbana, IL @ Red Room at The Canopy Club *

Oct 29 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom ^

Oct 30 – Tucson, AZ @ Hotel Congress (Club Stage) ^

Nov 01 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Soundwell ^

Nov 02 – Las Vegas, NV @ Swan Dive ^

Nov 05 – Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex ^

Nov 06 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent ^

Nov 08 – Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater ^

Nov 10 – St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall =

Nov 11 – Little Rock, AR @ Stickyz Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicken Shack =

Nov 13 – Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club

Nov 14 – Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall

Nov 15 – Washington, DC @ Union Stage =

Nov 18 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall =

Nov 19 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg =

Nov 21 – Chicago, IL @ Metro =

Nov 22 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre =

Dec 02 – Kansas City, MO @ Warehouse on Broadway +

Dec 03 – Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th Street – OKC +

Dec 04 – Austin, TX @ 29th Street Ballroom +

Dec 05 – San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger +

Dec 06 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada +

Dec 10 – Orlando, FL @ The Abbey –

Dec 11 – St. Augustine, FL @ Colonial Oak Music Park –

Dec 12 – Tampa, FL @ Crowbar –

Dec 13 – Charleston, SC @ The Charleston Pour House – Deck –

Dec 14 – Greenville, SC @ Radio Room Greenville –

Dec 16 – Portland, OR @ Dante’s

* support from Edgehill

^ support from Kids That Fly

= support from Foxtide

+ support from Good Boy Daisy

– support from John-Robert

Tokyo-Brit Punk Band STRAIGHT BACK FORWARD Debut with Anthemic Double Single ‘Don’t Back Down’ / ‘Haunted Home’

Eric Alper
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Tokyo-Brit Punk Band STRAIGHT BACK FORWARD Debut with Anthemic Double Single ‘Don’t Back Down’ / ‘Haunted Home’

JPU Records proudly announces the debut single from Tokyo-Brit punk outfit STRAIGHT BACK FORWARD. Their first double single, ‘Don’t Back Down’ backed with ‘Haunted Home’, is available worldwide from today.

The idea formed in Tokyo in 2020, STRAIGHT BACK FORWARD unites some of the Japanese punk scene’s most respected musicians with London-born vocalist Joshua (NEATZ). The line-up features guitarist and chief songwriter masasucks (FULLSCRATCH, the HIATUS, Radiots, support for Puffy AmiYumi, J-Band), drummer Masack (ex-MY FIRST STORY), and support from bassist Yoshi (GUMX), guitarists T_Wylde (PET), Sugulu (punk club organiser and okonomiyaki shop owner), and frontman Joshua, who provides vocals and lyrics.

“STRAIGHT BACK FORWARD came about out of a shared love of punk rock between two guys from opposite sides of the world,” explains Joshua. “‘Don’t Back Down’ is kind of just about that, getting on stage, raised fists and playing anthems to the people who love the same music we do. Doesn’t matter if you’re Japanese, British or anything, the music makes us who we are”

Guitarist masasucks adds: “This release takes us back to our roots, a reminder of the punk rock scene from the 90s. Hopefully this reaches a new audience and inspires another generation to keep the flame alive and to never back down!”

Despite forming during the height of the global pandemic, STRAIGHT BACK FORWARD quickly built momentum with their fearless positivity and raw sound. Their independently released demo in 2025 gained international attention from underground labels and media, paving the way for today’s official debut on UK-based JPU Records.

With support growing in Tokyo and worldwide, the band continues to throw themselves into live shows while carving out a sound that is direct, energetic, and uncompromising. It’s punk rock in its purest form.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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