NASHVILLE |DATE: JANUARY 15, 2004
FROM: KRISTINE ASHTON-MAGNUSON/LIBBY HENRY/AMANDA HALE
PENNYWISE
SET TO LAUNCH U.S. TOUR
JANUARY 21 IN ATLANTA IN SUPPORT OF ‘FROM THE ASHES’ ALBUM
Southern California’s quintessential punk rock band PENNYWISE—JIM LINDBERG (vocals), FLETCHER DRAGGE (guitars), BYRON McMACKIN (drums) and RANDY BRADBURY (bass)–hit the road again January 21 in support of their current CD FROM THE ASHES (Epitaph). Guttermouth, Bleed The Dream and Stretch Armstrong will join PENNYWISE on the road.
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:
MSO/818-380-0400
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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