DATE:
JANUARY 15, 2004
FROM:
KRISTINE ASHTON-MAGNUSON/LIBBY HENRY/AMANDA HALE
FROM
THE ASHES--a stunning mix that RollingStone.com
says “may just be the pinnacle of California punks Pennywise's fifteen-year
career” (September 9, 2003)--marks the band’s seventh full-length album. The
first single “Yesterdays” continues to build momentum at radio and is
currently in rotation at KROQ in Los Angeles.
The
follow-up to 2001’s critically acclaimed Land of The Free?, FROM THE
ASHES is a fourteen-track onslaught that Rolling Stone hailed as a
“well-produced
statement of principles” (October 2,
2003). Songs such as “Waiting” and “God Save the U.S.A.”
powerfully build on PENNYWISE’s seasoned, politically informed writing style.
PENNYWISE continues to garner praise
from the press for their CD and ferocious live show.
Here are some recent examples:
“Punk
fans can be fervent, but few bands provoke the level of aggressive enthusiasm
that veteran hard-core group Pennywise does, and in a scene that’s all about
letting loose, that’s saying something…[it was] one of the most interactive,
not to mention boisterously outrageous, shows the club has ever seen. From
vigilant chants of the band’s name that drowned out the room’s sound system
before the group played, to the procession of excited fans pulled up on stage to
sing with vocalist Jim Lindberg, Pennywise showed it knows how to throw a rowdy
punk party in which the audience plays a pivotal role…The thunderous
hyper-beats of drummer Byron McMackin and almost metallic-heavy riffs of
guitarist Fletcher Dragge probably would drown out a lesser singer, but Lindberg
rises to the challenge with a melodic yet gritty style that’s strengthened
further by the backup harmony help of bassist Randy Bradbury. Collectively, the
group’s members deliver a pulverizing, perfectly balanced sonic force.”
--Lina Lecaro,
Los Angeles Times, September 10, 2003
“From
the Ashes may just be the pinnacle of California punks Pennywise's
fifteen-year career. This time their sonic assault is aimed at the tragedies of
September 11, 2001; almost two years to the day after planes hit in New York and
D.C., the propulsive rhythms that marked each of the group's eight previous
albums have been distilled into a hard-as-nails, melodic platform from which
singer Jim Lindberg spews lyrics of governmental disgust as well as increasing
positivism amid the painful nightly news. ‘The irony of liberty is no one here
is truly free/When elections are stolen by greed and the GOP,’ he sings on the
rapacious track ‘God Save the USA.’ ‘Holiday in the Sun’ is a fiery nod
to the Dead Kennedys and Sex Pistols…Aging punks don't stop rocking, they just
get more reflective.”
--Andrew Strickman, RollingStone.com, September 9, 2003
“…on
the Southern California group's eighth full-length, he's [Fletcher Dragge] still
spewing the kind of chunky, speedy licks that made Pennywise indie-punk heroes a
decade ago. On tracks such as ‘God Save The USA,’ ’Something To Change,’
and ‘Waiting,’ Dragge and drummer Byron McMackin provide bristling
accompaniment to Jim Lindberg, whose melodic vocals pack a rebellious punch.”
--Jeff
Perlah, Revolver, November 2003
“…on this well-produced
statement of principles, they channel some fine West Coast punk
exemplars…and…sprinkle some solid hooks and choruses among their breakneck
rhythms.”
--Christian
Hoard, Rolling Stone, October 2,
2003
“Frontman
Jim Lindberg is in fine voice, attacking each song with a combination of
teeth-gritting conviction and heart-lifting melody, the guitars sound thick and
abrasive and the pace never lets up for a second…there’s enough
politically-fueled diatribe and blistering energy on here for Pennywise to truly
do justice to the term punk.”
--James Sherry, Kerrang!, September 6, 2003
“Pennywise,
which opened its riotous set with a turbo-charged ‘We Wish You a Merry
Christmas,’ was the only group to tackle a holiday song. The quartet also
played one of its most potent local sets in recent memory and also offered a
tongue-in-cheek, double-tine take on ‘Hey Ya!’ by Outkast.”
--Troy
J. Augusto, Daily Variety, December 16, 2003
Current
tour dates are as follows:
Date
City
Venue
Wed
1/21
Atlanta, GA
The
Masquerade
Thurs
1/22
Jacksonville, FL
Plush
Fri
1/23
Boynton Beach, FL Ovation
Sat
1/24
St. Petersburg, FL
Jannus Landing
Sun
1/25
Lake Buena Vista, FL
House of Blues
Wed
1/28
Norfolk, VA
The
NorVa
Thurs
1/29
Hartford, CT
Webster
Theatre
Fri
1/30
Worcester, MA
The
Palladium
Sat
1/31
Sayreville, NJ
Starland
Ballroom
Wed
2/18
Washington, DC
930 Club
Thurs
2/19
Philadelphia, PA
The Trocadero
Fri
2/20
Philadelphia, PA
The Trocadero
Sat
2/21
Pittsburgh, PA
Club
Laga
Sun
2/22
Cleveland, OH
Agora
Theatre
Wed
2/25
Cincinnati, OH
Bogart’s
Thurs
2/26
Pontiac, MI
Clutch
Cargo’s
Fri
2/27
Chicago, IL
House
of Blues
Sat
2/28
Milwaukee, WI
The
Rave
Sun
2/29
Minneapolis, MN
The Quest
Contacts:
Kristine
Ashton-Magnuson
kashton@msopr.com
ext. 233
Libby
Henry
lhenry@msopr.com
ext. 224
Amanda
Hale (tour press) ahale@msopr.com
ext. 238
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