The singer from Delaware/USA is known to many as the frontman of the post-hardcore band Boysetsfire. His third solo album Rebel Songs will be released on 17.12.2021 in stores as CD and vinyl, as well as on all known streaming platforms.

Personal feelings, solidarity & cohesion

The album Rebel Songs is like a cross-section through the entire career of the punk rock singer. Nathan was and is a political person, and as such he already gave expression to his political rage with Boysetsfire. But at some point it was time to fight for himself, to deal with his own demons, to face his heartbreak and to question his personal growth. Out of the self-reflective reappraisal and the current world situation, this record was born. “When the pandemic hit, it suddenly became very obvious that everything political is very personal,” Nathan says. Everyone had to deal with the global emergency in their own way, but the political imprint also often guided the personal thoughts of individuals. Thus, not only did personal and interpersonal views collide, but injustice against certain groups grew as well. “[…] the pandemic showed how incredibly underserved certain groups were – women, people of color, the lower and middle classes, the homeless, the LGBTQIA+ people. Every day we saw them being led into dangerously vulnerable situations, and it broke my heart to see the division among people.”

The 12-song album grapples with all of these impressions, views and realities. Support on Rebel Songs comes from rapper Eugenius, former Tagtraum frontman Matze Rossi and Rise Against head Tim McIlrath, who is not only a self-confessed vegan but also known for his tireless work for the animal rights organization PETA. Together with a variety of artists, the record results in an atmospheric experiment in collaboration and new approaches, with Nathan finding his way back to himself and his punk rock roots. “Community is more powerful than anything else. The drive to make that community better should be what politics is all about.”

The album was produced under the direction of Brian McTernan (Battery, Be Well) and is released on the label End Hits Records.

NATHAN GRAY & Support: SHORELINE

Concerts cancelled for now!

Reno Divorce from Denver, Colorado recently released an almost lost treasure. With “Outsider, Escape from Berlin” a great live album with Berlin roots was released. Johnny had the opportunity to talk to Brent about the making of the LP.

Johnny – Thanks for taking the time to talk to us, was the live album planned or something that came about from the Pandemic?

Brent, Reno Divorce – Thanks for having us, Johnny. We are really excited that the record is finally out there in the ether and available on vinyl. It’s the perfect introduction to any newcomer and it showcases our first and most important value: to be a live band. Our whole career we’ve strived to sound as good or better than our recordings, and I feel like we’ve done it with this one. What I really love about this album is that the decision to record it that night was an afterthought. We were nearing the end of our 2016 European tour and Uli from Wild at Heart (Church of Confidence) suggested it. He’s got a great studio in the basement that is made up of mostly analog equipment, which means no computer tricks or magic. What you play, is what you hear, so you’d better play it right. But as I mentioned, our minds were probably more focused on getting back home than making a live record. When we got back to America, so many other things were happening with the band and life in general. We were writing new songs and the momentum from the 2016 tour was still rolling. I got an endorsement from Gretsch guitars, we made a video for “She’s in Love With the Avenue” in California, we were invited to Rebellion. Every day something cool and exciting was happening. I have a young son who was around three years old at the time, too. It was definitely one of the most exhilarating times to be in Reno Divorce. I also bought a new home, and the CD with the tracks from the live record got lost during the move. And then, here comes 2020. Everything changes all over the world. During the shut down here in America, I had a lot of time on my hands. Time to dig through all those moving boxes, hahahaha! Because there was no live music happening anywhere, it was just the right time to do it.

Johnny – How much can you actually remember from the night? Were there moments that you thought weren’t taht good, but when listening back it surprised you?

Brent, RD – I still remember the whole tour vividly. For us, this was an all-or-nothing situation. In 2012, our booking agent had tried to forceon us a terrible record deal for our album “Lover’s Leap”. When we refused the deal, we parted ways. Some cool stuff started happening for us in America, but it was heavily implied that we weren’t going to have an easy time in Europe anymore. In 2015, I reached out to a friend of mine‘s new booking agency and we both decided to gamble on each other. It paid of tremendously. We approached the 2016 tour with a very serious and professional mindset, because we wanted to prove that we didn’t need the power of a label and that sooner or later the music industry would have to deal with us on our terms. We knew that our fans had been waiting to see us again for a very long time, and we definitely didn’t want to let them down. Playing as a three-piece meant we had to perform as flawlessly as possible. There’s nowhere to hide your mistakes in a trio. That night in Berlin, we didn’t adhere to any particular setlist. I remember forgetting we were recorded until about the fourth song. All three of us knew something cool and magical was happening. That concert was certainly the highlight of the tour. To be in such a beautiful city, to be on such an esteemed stage where so many of our heroes have played, and to be there with our friends… it was awesome.

Johnny – Wild at Heart in Berlin is one of my favourite venues to both play and visit. What do you think makes it so special?

Brent, RD – Man, it’s EVERYTHING! Uli, Leah, Banana, the whole crew. The Tiki Bar. The shop. The city. The stage. The sound. The Lemmy Burger. The neighborhood. For me, it’s like playing Madison Garden. All the bands that have played there. The green room. The studio. I’m blessed that Uli suggested us to record that night. Blessed that our fans showed up and that Sascha from Wolverine Records always believed in this band and trusted us as artist. Blessed that W@H put our poster on the ceiling. It’s like CBGB’s.

Johnny – The Vinyl release contains two studio tracks. Were they recorded during the lockdown or did you keep them for a while.

Brent, RD – The two bonus tracks were recorded especially for this album. Jason and Johnny, who played on the live part of the album, have since moved on to different projects. I decided it would be cool for the new lineup to be a part of this record as well. “Hopeless and Dopeless” was actually written a few years ago and played with my other project, “Brent Loveday and the Dirty Dollars”. The songs kind of move naturally between both bands, and at the time it felt like home with Reno Divorce. I wrote “Tired” about a year ago and it was always intended for Reno Divorce.

Johnny – Finally, can we expect to see you back on stage with us soon?

Brent, RD – Absolutely! Coming back to Europe and re-creating live is an absolute priority for us. I feel like we’ve never sounded better than we do now. Tye Battistella is back on rhythm guitar, Andy Brown on bass, and with the addition of Michael Lindau on bass, we’re firing on all cylinders. Expect a new record in 2022! Until then, head over to Wolverine Records to pick up the live disc or “Ship of Fools/ Fairweather Friends”!

Post-hardcore legends Hot Water Music from Gainesville, Florida announce their new studio album for 2022.

Feel the Void will be the first full length under End Hits Records (Europe) and Equal Vision Recordings (USA). The record was produced under the direction of Brian McTernan (Battery, Be Well). In songwriting, Chuck Ragan and Chris Wollard were assisted by Canadian Chris Cresswell (The Flatliners, Scorpios).

Hot Water Music about the record:
“We are very excited to be signed to Equal Vision and End Hits for our upcoming record, “Feel the Void.” Recording this record was a very cool combination of old and new. Reuniting with Brian McTernan as a producer while watching Chris, Chuck, and Cresswell work together for the first time resulted in the recording and writing magic that we had all hoped we would be able to create. We truly cannot wait to get back on the road and share these new songs live, especially in Oct 22 with BSF and Samiam!
Thanks for all of your support over the years, we promise this record is the one you’ve been hoping for.”

Hot Water Music, Boysetsfire & Samiam

The band has also announced a European tour for October 2022. Together with the post-hardcore colleagues Boysetsfire and the emocore greatness Samiam, which was already founded in 1988, concerts in England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and Germany are fixed.

A sensational lineup not to be missed. Tickets at: https://www.eventim.de*