From Prairie DIY to Montréal Grit: The Uncompromising Rise of Truck Violence

Truck Violence’s new album *The weathervane is my body* is out now. Photo: Matthew Van Dystadt-Aguiar, used with permission.

Truck Violence Returns with Unforgiving DIY Triumph: The weathervane is my body

Canada’s Truck Violence howls through the harsh edges of hardcore and folk, delivering a final sound that is both deeply comforting and fiercely confrontational. Their second full-length record, The weathervane is my body, is an attempt to answer—an attempt at conciliation through refusal. (another side, 2026)

It is available now, featuring the standout single and album closer, “Kindly, wash yourself.”

From Prairie Towns to City Streets

After relocating from the Alberta prairies to Montréal at just seventeen years old, guitarist and banjoist Paul Lecours and singer-poet Karsyn Henderson navigated the massive shift from rural isolation to urban intensity.

Small-town roots: The pair grew up in a town of just 600 people, graduating in a class of nine.
Early DIY spirit: By age fifteen, they were running a local studio and radio station with no industry support, no infrastructure, and no template—only the work itself and the conviction that it was worth doing.
Expanding the sound: Drawing influence from punk, shoegaze, and sludge, their distinctive identity emerged from years of experimentation. Upon arriving in Montréal, Chris Clegg (bass) and Thomas Hart (percussion) joined to build Truck Violence from the ground up.

Uncompromising, In-House Execution

The weathervane is my body is the culmination of that entire journey. The group composition, recording, mixing, and visual media were all produced completely in-house without outside intervention. Here, DIY is not an aesthetic choice or a marketing angle—it is the only honest option available.

The album serves as an expansion of the angry statement of purpose launched in their debut album, Violence, which Pitchfork hailed as “never predictable or formulaic.” Rooted in noise rock and post-hardcore traditions, the new record stands immediate, self-determined, and uncompromising.

The Vision Behind the Cover Art

Shot on film by the band on Avenue du Parc in Montréal, the album cover captures the record’s entire thesis in a single frame:

A figure perches atop a small Québécois-style house, hand-built from reclaimed materials—spine curved, legs pulled in, bare-backed against a skyline that dwarfs everything beneath it. A rural thing dropped into the grit of the city: small, out of place, and refusing to disappear. Naked and defenseless, open to every stimulus the world delivers.

The weathervane is my body, track list:

My dog would fuck the air
Jaundiced and reaching for a mother
Compelled by Christy
House caught fire
New Jesus
Your name, It’s walking
Stomach as a tower and the globules descending
Gerard, be quiet
Kindly, wash yourself

Catch Truck Violence Live

Truck Violence will be touring across North America this fall and winter.

The Future of Music Ownership: Inside Paul ‘PK’ Kemsley’s New AI Music Company

Artist Included launches artist-first AI music company focused on creator ownership and ethical re-recordings. Photo: Artist Included, used with permission.

A New Era for Iconic Music: Artist Included Launches Ethical AI Platform with Re-Recorded Culture Club Classic

A new artist-first music and technology company, Artist Included, has officially launched with a mission to help iconic artists reclaim creative participation, ownership, and long-term value in their music. Co-founded by entrepreneur Paul “PK” Kemsley and entertainment attorney and film producer Jeremy Rosen, the company uses ethical, artist-approved voice AI to create a new model for legendary acts to reimagine classic recordings and own new master tracks for today’s market. (Miller PR, 2026)

Celebrating a Legend: A New Take on “Karma Chameleon”

To mark its debut, and coincide with Boy George’s 65th birthday, Artist Included partnered with BMG to release a fresh recording of Culture Club’s iconic hit, “Karma Chameleon.”

“Revisiting ‘Karma Chameleon’ in this way was emotional and creatively inspiring. The goal was never to replace the original — it was to celebrate it and let the song keep evolving for new audiences.”

— Boy George

Clarification on the tech: This is not a synthetic AI track. Boy George recorded brand-new vocals in the studio. Ethical technology was used solely to support and enhance the final master, ensuring the technology serves the creator rather than replacing them.

Unlocking Value Across the Board

The “Karma Chameleon” release is the first of many planned projects spanning catalog artists from the 1960s through the 2000s. Artist Included helps creators unlock revenue streams that historically bypassed them, including:

Digital & Physical Formats: Streaming platforms, exclusive vinyl releases, foreign-language versions, remixes, tokenization, and Dolby Atmos.
Media & Sync Licensing: Film, TV, advertising, gaming, and trailerized formats.
Direct Engagement: Brand partnerships, sponsorships, and direct-to-fan campaigns.

Industry Leaders Weigh In

The company’s ethos centers on flipping traditional music economics back in favor of the original creators.

Paul “PK” Kemsley, Co-Founder & CEO:

“For decades, artists created the soundtrack to our lives while much of the long-term value moved away from the original creators. Artist Included was built to help reverse that dynamic. This is not about replacing artists or exploiting old catalogs — it is about helping artists create new ones. Used responsibly, AI can become one of the most powerful creative tools the music industry has ever seen.”

Jeremy Rosen, Co-Founder:

“The future of AI in music must put artists at the center — creatively, ethically, and economically. Artist Included is building a model where artists control and participate directly in the future value created from their music, voice, brand, and legacy. All ego aside, we are shifting the narrative from piracy to partnership; a timely AI reframe.”

Heavyweights Backing the Movement

Artist Included has built a powerful network of entertainment veterans, technology partners, and prominent investors to support its scale:

Category	Partner / Key Executive
Board Leadership	Robert Earl (Founder of Planet Hollywood) as Chairman of the Board.
Technology Partner	Syntiant (Developed the artist-approved vocal AI platform powering the recordings).
Strategic Investors	Mike Walsh (Uber/Salesforce seed investor), Doug Raetz (Co-President, Cresset Sports & Entertainment), and Red Light Management.
Executive Leadership	Kurt Busch (Syntiant CEO), Antony Antoniou (Capital Strategy), Rob Guthrie (Music Publishing Exec), and Patryk Strojny (Former McKinsey Exec).

Looking Ahead

At a moment when AI is reshaping the global landscape, Artist Included offers a transparent, consent-first alternative built on full rights clearance and shared economics. Additional artist partnerships, new releases, and strategic announcements will be unveiled in the coming months.

International Pop Star SHAB Returns with Electric New ‘Perfume’ Remix

The rapidly charting anthem returns with a fresh, dance-floor ready reimagining. Photo: Miller PR, used with permission.

SHAB Returns with High-Energy “Perfume” Remix Following Billboard & Dance Radio Success

LOS ANGELES, CA — Following the industry embrace of her latest single and music video, “Perfume,” international pop artist SHAB returns with an exciting new remix, giving the glamorous pop anthem a fresh, high-energy twist. (Miller PR, 2026)

“Perfume (Remix)” is now available on all major streaming platforms, alongside the official music video for the original version on YouTube.

A Fresh Twist on a Fan Favorite

Originally written by SHAB alongside A-list songwriters Bonnie McKee and JHart, “Perfume” blends contemporary pop production with subtle Persian influences, celebrating confidence, femininity, and self-expression.

The new remix, which was the most-added song to U.S. dance radio during its first week of release, transforms the track into an energetic, dancefloor-ready experience while preserving the infectious melodies and playful spirit that made the original resonate with fans.

Accompanied by an innovative and fashion-forward music video, the remix offers listeners a fresh way to experience one of SHAB’s standout releases.

“Perfume has always been about confidence, fun, and embracing who you are,” says SHAB. “I loved hearing the song take on a completely new energy with this remix. It brings a different side of the record to life, and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”

Building Global Momentum

This release continues SHAB’s momentum following three Billboard and Mediabase Top 40 chart appearances over the last nine months. Hits like “It’s On You,” “Lipstick,” and “Skin & Bones – VIP” have further established her as one of pop’s most exciting independent artists.

About SHAB

SHAB is an international pop artist who has captivated audiences with her powerful story of escaping Iranian fundamentalism as a refugee to become an acclaimed global entertainer.

With her unique blend of Middle Eastern, pop, and electronic influences, SHAB’s rise to fame has been marked by critical acclaim and a rapidly growing fanbase—boasting over 25 million YouTube views and 13 million Spotify streams.

Career Highlights & Achievements:

Tours: Four tours across Europe & the UK, plus a critically acclaimed 2025 U.S. national tour with The Wanted.
Press Features: Highlights in Rolling Stone, Newsweek, Marie Claire, FHM, Hot Press, and Wonderland.
Recent Releases: Her 2025 double album, One Suitcase, and her first U.S. pop radio hits, including “Lipstick” and “Voodoo” (a collaboration with hip-hop legend Fat Joe).

Advocacy & Giving Back

In addition to her musical success, SHAB is a passionate advocate for refugees and women’s rights. Serving as an ambassador for the UK-based charity Choose Love, SHAB is donating all of her profits from purchases of the One Suitcase album to support displaced people around the world. Her advocacy is deeply personal, rooted in her lived experience as a refugee, and aligns with her mission to empower others through both her music and humanitarian work.

Genghis Tron Announces New Album ‘Signal Fire’: Everything You Need to Know

Genghis Tron releases long-awaited new album Signal Fire. Photo: Aaron Jones, used with permission.

Genghis Tron Return to Face the Present on Signal Fire

For almost two decades, Genghis Tron bandleaders Michael Sochynsky and Hamilton Jordan have gazed into the future and imagined what the world would look like after the extinction of our species. It’s an outcome that has long troubled, but also inspired, them to steer the pioneering outfit in breaking new ground with each successive release, moving from the genre-smashing electro-grind of 2008’s Board Up the House to the lush, pummeling hypnosis of 2021’s Dream Weapon. (another side, 2026)

Now, with their fourth full-length album, Signal Fire—co-produced and mixed by Seth Manchester (Model/Actriz, Battles, Big Brave)—Genghis Tron awakens us from the post-apocalyptic daydreams of their previous work with a violent, and most welcome, shove.

This time, the distant-future reveries give way to an unsettling awareness of the present we’re actually living, as our circumstances grow too pressing to try and escape.

“Signal Fire envisions a Kojima-esque dystopia of endless proxy warfare, where the deluge of available information has outmoded the human ability to parse it. A world where those amoral, shameless, and cunning enough can literally reshape the reality at their whim through sheer insistence.”

— Tony Wolski, vocalist and lyricist

A Visceral Evolution

Roaring onto the scene in 2004 with a uniquely demented blend of extreme metal, synthesizer textures, and drum-machine madness, Genghis Tron are no strangers to making a forceful impression. But Signal Fire marks the first time the band—joined again by Wolski and Nick Yacyshyn (SUMAC) on drums, plus newcomer Kenny Szymanski (The Armed) on bass—has captured this level of urgency with such visceral precision.

Through their contributions to 2021’s Dream Weapon, Wolski and Yacyshyn (who joined the band in 2020, replacing former vocalist Mookie Singerman and the band’s drum machine) had already proven themselves to be indispensable to the full realization of Genghis Tron’s vision.

Refining the Craft

Twenty years into their career, having proven their ability to forge common ground between Ministry and Aphex Twin, between Brutal Truth and Boards Of Canada, and between Cluster and Converge, ugly-beautiful new genre hybrids from Genghis Tron no longer come as a surprise.

What’s remarkable, however, is how Sochynsky and Jordan have taken a project that started in 2004 as a dorm-room genre-pastiche experiment, “a chaotic, wild amalgamation of all our favorite stuff, literally slammed together,” says Jordan, and refined their songwriting craft to deliver a sound that is unmistakably their own.

Sochynsky and Jordan acknowledge that their approach to songwriting is, at its core, the same it has always been: trading ideas, whether on synths, programmed beats, or guitars. The crucial difference? Genghis Tron now sounds like an actual band.

On Signal Fire, Genghis Tron has never sounded more unhinged, more alive, and more free to continue upending everyone’s expectations in service of making compelling music.

Signal Fire track list:

I Am All
Signal Fire
Future Worship
Like Fotocrom
Tomorrow Mirage
Nothing Blooms in the Hollow
Without Form
Born Prey
A Love So Pure
New Gods

Emma Ruth Rundle Announces New Album ‘These Killing Times’

Emma Ruth Rundle debuts ‘Enough’ video/single. Photo: Mason Rose, used with permission.

Emma Ruth Rundle Announces New Album These Killing Times, Drops Scathing Single “Enough”

Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, poet, and multidisciplinary artist Emma Ruth Rundle has officially announced her sixth full-length studio album, These Killing Times, set for release on September 18 via her own imprint, Errant Child. (another side, 2026)

Alongside the announcement, Rundle debuted the cutting lead single, “Enough.”

Listen: “Enough”

“Enough” showcases Rundle’s signature ability to fuse gentleness with intensity. Opening with a hypnotic drum rhythm courtesy of Jess Gowrie (Chelsea Wolfe), the track is driven by a deep-toned acoustic guitar riff that offers a deceptive sense of calm.

As Rundle’s voice enters, a distinct note of optimism swells during the increasingly impassioned choruses, ultimately building to a crushing heaviness featuring a tormented saxophone performance by Patrick Shiroishi. It is a track that offers comfort, even as its underlying message proves scathing.

“‘Enough’ is inspired by ‘The Man Who Sold The World’—and in a retelling of the story of Elijah, we imagine him as an Elon Musk-type figure. We ask: is not the whole world enough? We ask the many gods to unleash vengeance and carry this man away into the angry sky, piece by piece.

This song is a reflection of the times we live in and is a vision for the dispensation of the billionaire class. The world belongs to all beings.” — Emma Ruth Rundle

The Music Video

Conceived by Rundle in collaboration with artists Mason Rose, Blake Armstrong, and Mitch Wells, the accompanying music video for “Enough” showcases a stark gothic theatricality.

Evoking an atmosphere as if Nosferatu had landed in the world of legendary puppeteer Jim Henson—a major visual influence for the record—the video depicts Rundle haunted by a creature known as “The Companion.” The dark, romantic visuals are further heightened by a series of frames reminiscent of classic stop-motion animation.

About These Killing Times

Electrifying, emotional, and charged with anti-patriarchal feminist rage, These Killing Times arrives as a reactive anthology, bristling, full of life, and rooted in resistance. Pre-Order/Pre-Save here.

While the new record possesses a spirit of defiance, it retains the tenderness, rawness, and vulnerability that resonated with so many on her globally acclaimed 2021 album, Engine of Hell.

These Killing Times marks a return to a full-band setup, creating a sonically powerful accompaniment to Rundle’s more direct vocal style. The album’s instrumentation is brighter and more urgent than ever before, featuring an impressive lineup of collaborators:

Jess Gowrie (Chelsea Wolfe, Mrs. Piss) – Drums
Troy Zeigler – Percussion / Collaboration
Patrick Shiroishi – Saxophone
Nick Reinhart (Tera Melos)
Gina Gleason (Baroness)
Marissa Nadler
Lukas Frank (Storefront Church)
Amelia Baker (Cinder Well)

Longtime collaborator Sonny Diperri (My Bloody Valentine, Trent Reznor), who has worked with Rundle across multiple releases over the last decade, returned to record the album.

Community Over Isolation

Written as Rundle watched from afar the devastating effects of climate disasters unfold in early 2025, she reflected on the root causes of global catastrophes and made a conscious choice to lean toward hope. Where outside forces tempted her toward isolation, she reached outward to create a project that acknowledges pain while offering community and resilience in response.

“I wanted to feel fortified by friendships and to be in community with other musicians—to make something that pushed back against the isolation,” Rundle shares.

These Killing Times confronts questions of intention, systemic capitalism, the rise of Christian nationalism, and political discourse. Yet running alongside the anguish is love—acting as a balm, a tonic, and a means of escape.

Outside of her music discography, Rundle continues her work as an established visual artist and author, following the 2025 release of her debut poetry collection, The Bella Vista (Unnamed Press).

Fall Tour Dates Announced

Emma Ruth Rundle will hit the road this autumn for a full-band headlining tour across North America in support of These Killing Times, kicking off in November. Cinder Well will support all headlining dates.

The headlining run follows Rundle’s solo support tour alongside All Them Witches throughout October.

These Killing Times track list:
1 – Powerless
2 – God’s Picture
3 – Anvil
4 – Catherine Wheel
5 – Don’t Delay Heaven
6 – Enough
7 – Human Kindness
8 – Oceans of Time

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Milwaukee Trio Snag Is One of Modern DIY Hardcore’s Most Unique Voices

Snag shares music video for new LP album opener ‘Unarrest Me.’ Photo: Samer Ghani, used with permission.

Heavy Emo with a Purpose: Milwaukee’s Snag Returns with All The Cages Holding Us Will One Day Turn To Dust

Since their formation in 2016, Milwaukee trio Snag has quietly carved out their own unique space in the DIY underground. They have quickly become a favorite of listeners hungry for emotional hardcore that delivers far more than just aimless chaos. (another side, 2026)

On All The Cages Holding Us Will One Day Turn To Dust—the band’s third LP and first for Deathwish Inc.—Snag continues to develop their signature brand of heavy emo, expanding melodically and texturally without losing an ounce of their edge.

Turning Inward: Personal Struggles and Physical Cages

While Snag’s lyrical approach has historically focused on broader, universal themes like climate anxiety and apocalyptic dread, All the Cages… shows the band looking inward. Many of the tracks draw heavily on the members’ personal experiences with chronic illness and mental health obstacles.

The central motif of cages weaves its way throughout the record. On the album opener, “Unarrest Me,” the cage is literal: a physical jail cell.

“The song is a POV of a wrongful arrest—the confusion, the panic, and the sheer inhuman reaction from the arrester. This song musically tells an eerie story within itself. It sets off on a journey and ends abruptly at its peak.”

— Samm Szymborski (Guitarist/Vocalist)

Bassist and vocalist Peter Murphy emphasizes the visual and thematic story behind the track’s music video:

“The concept for the video is ‘collective liberation through mutual aid.’ The symbols of zip ties and blindfolds against flashlights and sprints put a finer point on the idea that every free person can help free another person.”

Music as an Action Plan

From the very beginning, acting on their message has been central to Snag’s ethos. Their lyrics aren’t just art, they are invitations to active involvement.

The Self-Titled LP: Came packaged with a lyric sheet, a book of matches, and an envelope of seeds encouraging listeners to grow habitats for pollinators.
All the Cages…: Features a partnership with the Florida-based organization Wire of Hope. The record includes individually labeled envelopes addressed to inmates, inviting listeners to become prison pen pals.

“The logic that says a corporation can destroy the planet to extract profit from it systematically is the same basic logic that says humans can be systematically caged for profit,” Murphy explains.

“It’s probably safe to say every person who hears this album is a lot closer to being incarcerated than to being one of the billionaires that seek ever more control. We thought we could make that connection much more explicit with a homework assignment in the record insert—and hopefully foster friendship and connection as well.”

Expanding the Sonic Palette

The intentionality behind the band’s message extends directly into the music. Snag has always been far more than a mere throwback band, consciously pushing boundaries in a subgenre that often struggles to move past the influence of its forebearers.

All the Cages… recalls the dynamic, progressive energy of acts like Majority Rule, Welcome the Plague Year, and Kidcrash, while forging its own distinct path.

“We made a decision a long time ago to simply make the music that we like and to not try to fit into genre conventions. That decision gave us permission to try different instrumentation and stylistic approaches to songs, which resulted in a few unusual moments on this album.”

— Peter Murphy

A Decade of DIY Resilience

A decade into their existence, Snag remains one of the most unique and vital voices in modern DIY hardcore. The band members’ commitment is deeply personal, they need the music just as much as the music needs them. At its core, they simply haven’t grown bored with the artform that captured their imaginations as kids.

“When we started the band we were in some of the most depressive periods of our lives, and it offered an outlet, camaraderie, and hope. It hasn’t stopped since.”

— Wysocki

All The Cages Holding Us Will One Day Turn To Dust track list:

Unarrest Me
Debilitated
Pray for Peace
Suburn
Juneberry
Whisper
Shelf Life
Paris, WI
Foam Cup, Pt 3
Cages
Cages (Reprise)

Carly Simon Returns with New Album ‘Comes In Waves’ and Lead Single ‘Howl’

‘Comes In Waves’ is Carly Simon’s first album of original songs since 2008. Photo: Sally Taylor, used with permission.

Carly Simon Announces First Album of Original Songs Since 2008: ‘Comes In Waves’

Legendary singer-songwriter Carly Simon is officially returning with Comes In Waves, her first album of original material since 2008. Set to arrive on August 14, the 12-track album was written and recorded primarily at her Martha’s Vineyard home, bringing together a body of work that feels both deeply personal and quietly expansive. (Miller PR, 2026)

Six decades after her solo debut, Simon’s voice remains unmistakable: emotionally precise, literate, and unguarded. Rather than looking back with simple nostalgia, Comes In Waves is anchored in clarity, exploring the complex emotional terrain of love, memory, family, and self-reckoning.

Pre-save Comes In Waves

A Striking Reintroduction: “Howl”

Serving as the album’s opening track and lead single, “Howl” captures the emotional depth Simon continues to explore. Co-written and produced with platinum- and gold-certified producer David Spencer, the track pairs Simon’s signature vocals with a lyric that moves from the sting of betrayal toward the peace of forgiveness.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the single, Simon shares:

“‘Howl’ lives in that space between betrayal and forgiveness, where anger has to be voiced before it can be released. It’s about letting the frustration out so it doesn’t sit and simmer. The song begins in anger, but it moves toward forgiveness, and speaks to any situation where trust has been broken.”

Themes of Healing and “Slowly”

The album’s title is drawn from “Slowly,” a song centered on patience, return, and emotional renewal. In the track, feelings rise and recede like the tide—a concept that serves as the emotional anchor for the entire record. Across these 12 tracks, love, grief, anger, memory, and healing all arrive in waves, moving with their own natural force and timing.

Rather than trying to recreate her past hits, Comes In Waves continues the honest, vulnerable conversation Simon has shared with her audience for decades.

A Close Circle of Collaborators

This record was brought to life alongside a tight-knit circle of family, friends, and longtime creative partners:

John Forté: Features on the album posthumously, following his passing earlier this year.
Ben Taylor (Son): Contributed throughout the project as a singer, musician, producer, and songwriter.
Sally Taylor (Daughter): Contributed vocals and created the single’s cover artwork.

Comes In Waves track list

Howl
Maybe I Never Loved You
Peaches
Love Has No Ending
Mother Of Pearl
Slowly
Four In The Morning
The More I Look For You
Love The Way I Do
The Father Daughter Dance
Share the End
Do It Anyway

About Carly Simon

For those who need a quick refresher on the incredible legacy of this trailblazing artist:

A Trailblazing Career: Emerging in the early 1970s, Carly Simon helped redefine pop music as an intimate, emotionally intelligent form of storytelling.
The EGOT-Adjacent Legend: Her catalog includes generation-defining hits like “You’re So Vain,” “Anticipation,” and “Let the River Run.” The latter earned her an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy, making her the first female artist to win all three as both a performer and composer.
Accolades: Simon is a five-time Grammy winner (with 19 additional nominations) and an inductee into both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

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Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol Shares New Single ‘The Disappearing Man’ Ahead of New Album

Austin’s Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol. Photo: Chris Wilson, used with permission.

New Music: Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol Drop Melodic Sludge-Bomb “The Disappearing Man”

Austin’s favorite “doom wop” and heavy metal trio, Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol, is back with a brand new single: “The Disappearing Man.” (US/THEM Group, 2026)

The track comes as a fresh taste of their highly anticipated forthcoming album, CA$H GRAB. Formed in 2017 by Boston-area transplants Leo Lydon (lead vocals/guitar) and Sean St. Germain (drums), alongside Georgia native Aaron Metzdorf (bass/backing vocals), the band has spent years perfecting a wildly unique sonic lane.

With “The Disappearing Man,” they showcase an absolute mastery of heavy, hook-filled riffs and rhythms couched in an earworm melody that would make Green Album-era Weezer jealous.

Loud, Lean, and Relentlessly Catchy

The new single doubles down on the band’s signature blend of crushing riffs and off-kilter melody. It’s loud, lean, and balancing sludgy heaviness with an infectious groove that refuses to let go.

Beneath the wall of fuzz lies an undeniable melodic instinct, proving the band can deliver massive hooks without sacrificing an ounce of raw power. It’s a confident preview of an album that promises to push their self-proclaimed “big dumb riffs” philosophy even further. If this single is any indication, CA$H GRAB is shaping up to be their strongest release yet.

The Album Update: While CA$H GRAB is still in production—with official release details dropping at a later date—you can already stream the phenomenal run of singles leading up to it: “The Disappearing Man,” “Bough Down,” and “Peaches.”

Catch Them on the Road

RBBP just wrapped up a massive, highly successful 6-week headlining tour across North America, packing out rooms with multiple sold-out shows alongside fellow Austin punk-metal trio American Sharks.

If you missed that run, you’re in luck. The band recently announced they will be hitting the road again for Fall 2026 supporting the legendary Death From Above 1979.

Check out the full list of live dates below and secure your spots early!

👉 GET TICKETS FOR ALL SHOWS HERE

Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol: 2026 US Tour Dates

09/05 Cookeville, TN – Muddy Roots Music Festival
10/01 Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades *
10/02 Berkeley, CA – UC Theater *
10/03 Monterey, CA – Golden State Theatre *
10/04 San Luis Obispo, CA – Fremont Theater *
10/06 Ventura, CA – Ventura Music Hall *
10/08 Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco *
10/09 Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory OC *
10/10 San Diego, CA – The Observatory San Diego *
10/11 Tempe, AZ – The Marquee *
10/13 Denver, CO – Gothic Theatre *

w/ Death From Above 1979

A.A. Williams Releases New Album ‘Solstice’ via RPM Records

A.A. Williams’ new album Solstice is out now. Photo: another side, used with permission.

Cinematic Darkness & Radiant Renewal: A.A. Williams Releases ‘Solstice’

A.A. Williams steps into a new era. Out now via RPM, Solstice arrives as Williams’ most powerful and poetic work to date, an album shaped by extremes of light and darkness, weight and fragility, devastation and renewal. (another side, 2026)

Thunderous highs, intimate lows, and vivid emotional shifts unfold across a record that feels both deeply personal and cinematic in scale.

A Sonic World of Extremes

Long celebrated for her haunting vocals, immersive dynamics, and striking emotional clarity, Williams expands her sonic world with an album that moves like a ritual through changing seasons.

The Instrumentation: Guitars churn like gathering weather, while strings glow with a fragile warmth.
The Vocals: Her voice unfolds seamlessly from restrained intimacy into a commanding emotional force.

Solstice captures A.A. Williams at a major creative turning point. Inspired by years of global touring, acclaimed collaborations, and genre-defying reinterpretations, the album finds her fully embracing both vulnerability and power.

Balancing crushing heaviness with moments of startling beauty, Solstice invites listeners into a world where silence can feel as immense as sound itself. It’s intimate, dramatic, and quietly radiant; music for endings, beginnings, and the long road between the two.

About A.A. Williams

Making her debut live appearance at the prestigious Roadburn Festival in the Netherlands off the back of a self-titled EP, A.A. Williams has since toured across the globe with heavyweights like:

Cult of Luna
Explosions in the Sky
Russian Circles
Sleep Token
The Sisters of Mercy

Alongside these massive support slots, she has established herself as a formidable headline artist, including a landmark show at the iconic Queen Elizabeth Hall inside London’s Southbank Centre.

A Track Record of Critical Acclaim

Her standout festival appearances have dovetailed with two widely acclaimed album releases: 2020’s Forever Blue and 2022’s As The Moon Rests. Both records placed Williams at the forefront of a wave of artists taking textured, epic, and folk-rooted heavy music into progressive new directions. A live BBC session at the legendary Maida Vale Studios further bolstered her credentials.

Pushing Boundaries & Companion Pieces

Never one to rest on her laurels, Williams has continuously released innovative companion projects, including:

“Exit In Darkness”: A collaborative single with Japanese post-rock titans MONO.
Songs From Isolation (2020): A solo covers collection recorded during the pandemic lockdown that drew praise from icons like The Cure’s Robert Smith and Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan.
arco (2021): Perhaps her most impressive feat, where the multi-instrumentalist drew on her classical training to completely rework her debut EP from rock instrumentation into a stunning string ensemble.

Solstice is out now via RPM. Stream or purchase the album here.

Solstice track list:

Poison
Wolves
Little By Little
Hold It Together
Outlines
I’ve Seen Enough
The Veil
Just A Shadow
It Won’t Rain Forever
Breathe
The Gentle Harm

Smirk Announces New Album ‘Speculative Fiction,’ Shares New Single ‘Abide’

New album Speculative Fiction out July 3 via Smoking Room. Photo: another side

Track Premiere: Smirk Shares Melancholic New Single & Video “Abide” Ahead of New Album

Smirk has released the melancholic single and video “Abide” ahead of his highly anticipated new album, Speculative Fiction, due out July 3 on Smoking Room. Pre-order/pre-save here. (another side, 2026)

The indie-leaning track feels like a lost B-side from Surfer Rosa-era Pixies mixed with the twang of Gun Club and a solo straight out of the J Mascis playbook. Lyrically, the track slides right into the album’s overarching theme: abandoning longstanding ties for a fresh start and a new future on the horizon.

“‘Abide’ is based on an old British hymn that I reworked to be about the looming end of a long friendship. It’s about that slow drift where nothing really happens, but you can feel it fading and you aren’t trying to fix it.” — Nick Vicario, Smirk Mastermind

Unrest in the Suburbs: Facing the Past

Growing old sucks, but there comes a point in life when it becomes a necessity to ignore the pull to constantly wild out.

“When this band started in LA, it was a crazy time in my life,” Vicario admits. “I was crashing cars, doing drugs—I was doing horrible things and destroying my life.”

On Speculative Fiction, Vicario deals with a new twist on an age-old theme for punk rock: unrest in the suburbs. Instead of youthful rebellion, this version of unrest deals with looking back on past indiscretions and dealing with their repercussions—the disruption of the old life, settling into the new, and the reflection that comes with it. These thoughtful lyrics and themes, when paired with Vicario’s guitar-pop confection, make for a unique juxtaposition.

“When I was writing ‘Speculative Fiction’, a lot of that dealt with the ‘old me’ and some of the crazy life choices I made while abusing substances. So while the record is partially about the ‘old me,’ it’s also very much about putting them in my current world and the new set of problems that come from that.”

From Portland Hardcore to Solo Vision

Vicario has a deep history with punk rock. Growing up in Portland, Oregon, in the early 2000s, he was ingrained in the legendary scene that birthed Poison Idea and Wipers. He began playing in bands at an early age, hobnobbing with members of Tragedy and Criminal Damage in cover bands and even on the gridiron. At just 12 years old, his first band, The Diskords, were the toast of the Maximum Rock ‘n’ Roll illuminati, leading to several releases and having The Exploding Hearts take them under their wing.

His musical journey spans an impressive array of genres and projects:

Hardcore & Indie Pop: Playing in hardcore bands like Cower eventually led him to the indie pop outfit Wild Ones, who released two records across eight years (the latter landing on Topshelf Records).
Collaborations & Touring: Stints with Public Eye, Cemento, Crisis Man, and others, alongside touring with Surfer Blood and Dreamdecay.
The Birth of Smirk: Vicario eventually decided to focus his energies on his solo project, Smirk, dropping a self-titled album in 2021 and Material in 2022.

A New Sonic Blueprint

On Speculative Fiction, Vicario is restarting both personally and musically. Smirk is slowing things down, taking a more measured, power-pop approach that strays away from the speedy punk marking earlier releases. The result is decidedly more mid-paced, reflecting the works of Big Star and The Paul Collins Beat as much as early Stiff Records releases, all filtered through the DIY spirit of Guided by Voices.

Written entirely by Vicario, Speculative Fiction is Smirk’s third full-length album. To round out the record, he called upon a stellar cast of old friends and live bandmates, including:

Ross Farrar (Ceremony)
Max Smadja (RIXE)
Ryan Mangione-Smith (Advertisement)
Current members of Smirk’s live lineup (who play in Hotline TNT, Poison Ruin, and Pardoner)

Production Credits

Recording: Mainly recorded in Vicario’s home studio, with additional tracks captured by Ian Rose at Daisy Chain Studios in Brooklyn.
Mixing: Handled for the bulk of the record by Andy Oswald.

Life Imitates Art

With Speculative Fiction, life imitates art. Smirk slows things down, retools, and gets meticulous—making deliberate decisions with respect to songwriting, approach, and collaboration to execute a new vision.

The final result is a refined, focused, and less chaotic approach to punk with an eye on pop-sensibility. It perfectly mirrors Vicario’s new lifestyle: outside of the fast lane and behind a white picket fence.

Smirk’s new album Speculative Fiction arrives July 3 via Smoking Room. Stream the new single “Abide” now.

Speculative Fiction tracklist:

01 – Greetings
02 – Victimry
03 – Cheap Greed
04 – Going Off To Die
05 – Sistine Junk
06 – Dog Years
07 – I Shall Be Released
08 – Perfect World
09 – Abide
10 – Ritual Torture
11 – Interlude
12 – Shit Song
13 – Crime Pays

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