Welcome to Fire Red Sky’s latest weekly digest of punk rock, alt rock and indie music news and writing.
It’s a light read, a quick catch up on the week that lands with you every Sunday morning and has woken up from its August slumber like a DM-wearing Cinderella (stripey tights optional).
The links are mainly taken from my social media feeds, so if you want more of this sort of thing than you can follow me on Facebook, Threads, Bluesky and Mastodon (I’m also on Instagram).
Before you peruse the stories below here’s a few extra updates:
Cardiff-based Welsh language alternative rock six-piece Breichiau Hir have released a live session video for ‘Syllu Mewn I'r Gwagle’ (Staring Into The Void), the opening track from the band’s critically-acclaimed second album Y Dwylo Uwchben (The Hands Above). The video below is the first track to be taken from a five-song live session recorded at One Louder Studios in Newport, with the full set coming on 31 October (Breichiau Hir on Bandcamp).
Brooklyn-based garage rockers Obits (Hot Snakes, Edsel) are getting the first vinyl release of their L.E.G.I.T. collection. Previously only available as a limited-edition Japanese tour CD, the compilation compiles early singles, covers (including Graham Nash’s ‘Military Madness’ and The Kid’s 1978 punk anthem ‘The City is Dead’) and live performances, and will arrive 7 November (Pre-order/listen at Bandcamp).
Released 50 years ago this week, Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here and UK indie label has put out the carefully curated tribute album Wish You Were Here - 50 Years Later. It features the whole album (plus two bonus tracks) reimagined by a roster of underground rock bands from around the world, including Sergeant Thunderhoof, Hippie Death Cult, Mos Generator (more details on the 50 Years Later series, Bandcamp)
Headlines
Michael Stipe clears up 'It’s the End of the World As We Know It' lyrics confusion for fans of R.E.M. (pictured above) after 38 years (Stereogum)
Tortoise reveal new album, Touch (The Quietus)
Motörhead punk tribute album features Rancid, Pennywise, and unearthed collab with The Damned (Consequence of Sound)
Pulp, Wolf Alice and more nominated for 2025 Mercury Prize (The Quietus)
Why Jack White’s music catalogue is worth more than Morrissey’s (Billboard)
New releases
Speed unleash 'Peace' and announce All My Angels EP (The Punk Site)
Juliana Hatfield announces new album, shares 'Scratchers' (Brooklyn Vegan) and has her 2005 album Made in China reissued by American Laundromat Records (Bandcamp)
Home Front confirms a new album (Scene Point Blank)
Indie rock band Guitar share 'Every Day Without Fail' (Stereogum)
Skullcrusher release the shimmering ' Dragon' (Stereogum)
Listen/watch
The Mountain Goats announce new album, with contributions from The Replacements’ Tommy Stinson, share new song 'Armies of the Lord' (Pitchfork)
Green Day release first trailer for their upcoming comedy movie New Years Rev (Punk News)
Watch Turnstile bring stage diving and a horn section to Tiny Desk (Brooklyn Vegan)
The Hives kicked off their tour in Austin with Snooper supporting - photos (Brooklyn Vegan)
AFI unveil ’80s-inspired new single 'Holy Visions' (Consequence of Sound)
Ah… Youth!
If you’re quick, and can make it to London, there’s still time to catch Ghost and Spirit, the first major UK exhibition of American artist Mike Kelley, which the Tate Modern is showing until 9 March.
Long reads
Nova Twins’ Amy Love: “Refugees make up less than one per cent in the UK – they are not the reason you’re struggling” (NME)
Blur’s Dave Rowntree: ‘People think music was better in the old days, to which I say: bollocks!’ (The Guardian)
Suede: “I don’t think there’s any band of our generation still making records as vital as ours” (NME)
All She Ever Looked For: Kate Bush’s Never For Ever, 45 Years On (The Quietus)
Bill Stevenson talks Descendents reissues, influences and newer fans (Dying Scene)
Elsewhere on Substack
The Run Out Grooves takes it last-track-of-an-album focus to The Cure’s Disintegration and ‘Untitled’.
And finally…
Dave Grohl pictured seemingly buying bootleg Oasis merch outside LA gig (NME)
Do you have a Substack article, news tip or other piece of writing you’d like to be considered for the digest? Send it to tangleofwires@gmail.com (same goes for press releases etc.)
Fugazi’s live shows come out of the waiting room
The last, to-date, Fugazi show was on 4 November 2002 at London's Forum in Kentish Town. I did not attend it. Awaiting the impending birth of my first son was very much the priority then, rather than gig going.