Touch and Go is a long-running, incredible indie label that -- like Sub Pop! -- started off as a punk-inspired fanzine. Tonight, Friday, April 8, the original cult artist leader behind the small press publication, Tesco Vee, will be having a meet and greet reading at Elliott Bay Bookstore on Cap Hill with his OG hardcore outfit, The Meatmen.

That veteran band of foul-minded scamps will be playing later that night at El Corazon. But for those zine-freaks who like me drooled over the near-600 page republication of the actual inside of T&G issues, Touch And Go: The Complete Hardcore Punk Zine '79-83, the early evening celebration will be a must-attend. The glorious historical tome was put out by Bazillion Points Books last summer, and I hyped it hard over at the KEXP Blog at the end of the year.

As their Facebook tour promo puts it: "For the entire month of April 2011, Tesco will be terrorizing West Coast book and record stores by day, telling the tales of Rollins, MacKaye, Danzig, and the dawn of the hardcore punk; and by night showing grimy punk dives how it’s done with full-color four-dimensional performances by Detroit daddies The Meatmen."

more...

Basically, Pinback is one of those bands that can do no wrong. At least in my musical world, where they live lodged firmly between bearded, haunted, sad-bastard notebook lyrics and dirty, gritty indie rock. Their bass-laden double front-man performances, both in the studio and on the stage, are really a feast for the ears --  Pinback and Autumn of the Seraphs were two of the albums I picked up as "must-haves that I had somehow missed" this past year and both have been in heavy rotation since.

Their current tour is stopping through town tomorrow night at Neumo's, where you can get a slice of this magic first-hand {$17 adv., $20 dos}. For our PDX friends, it looks like the tour stops in town the following night, with plans for San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego before a cross-country jump to New York on the 22nd.

As the officials put it, they're "infectious," "dreamy," and "not to be missed." I couldn't agree more.

Here's a video for "From Nothing to Nowhere" off of AotS:

And "Fortress" off of Summer in Abbadon (with some really fantastic animation):

Hope to see you at the show!

Ted Leo has secured his place in my heart with the release of an EP in response to the Minnesota Police brutality at the RNC case which he put together to bring awareness and financial aid to the people affected by the police brutality in Minnesota.

more...

Living with the Living finds Ted Leo at his most biting and political, along with most diverse and experimental, leading to a rock and roll treat for the whole family.

more...

Even when it sounds like they might be breaking into a full-blown barn-burner... they pull the throttle back promptly to reveal the dead body under the leaves.

more...

The record is a reflection of finer refinements and indulgences: dark chocolates, dry wines, stinky cheeses, and stout beers. This is the real thing.

more...

Your rock and roll astrological forecast, featuring The Postal Service, All Girl Summer Fun Band, The Earaches, Statistics, and more.

more...