While You Were Away: New Music From Alkaline Trio, RIP Shane MacGowan, Dave Grohl’s Epic ‘Play’ Performance, And More
After an extended holiday break, While You Were Away returns! This week we’re talking about Alkaline Trio’s new song, remembering Shane MacGowan, Dave Grohl’s epic “Play” performance, and more.
Alkaline Trio share new song inspired by ‘an active shooter situation’
Alkaline Trio have shared their new song “Bad Time,” the second single from their upcoming album, Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs.
Vocalist Matt Skiba explains the song was inspired by unsetteling real-life events. “‘Bad Time’ was initially inspired by a friend and crush who happened to call me while I was on tour in El Paso, TX as an active shooter situation was happening just across from where we were staying,” he said. “We could hear gunshots and sirens as the situation escalated. My friend asked if it was a bad time to talk, and I said no — I really wanted to speak with her. It was actually a terrible and terrifying time, but it was never a bad time to hear her voice.”
He continued, “The second verse goes back to a time in Chicago when my roommate Bobby and I were almost killed in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting — high as kites on mushrooms. We lived in a neighborhood run by Latin Kings at the time of the shooting, so I reference those facts as well as how nice it would have been to hear from the same girl back then.”
Listen to the song below.
Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs comes out on January 26th via Rise Records.
Shane MacGowan, Pogues singer, dies
Shane MacGowan, the punk singer and frontman of The Pogues has died at 65 years old.
MacGowan’s wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, broke news of his passing on Thursday (November 30th). “the love of my life and the most beautiful soul and beautiful angel and the sun and the moon and the start and end of everything that I hold dear has gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese,” she wrote in a social media post. “I am blessed beyond words to have met him and to have loved him and to have been so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him and to have had so many years of life and love and joy and fun and laughter and so many adventures.”
MacGowan’s wife recently revealed that the singer died from complications of viral encephalitis and pneumonia.
Our thoughts go out to MacGowan’s friends and family during this time.
blink-182 share live video for ‘Anthem Part 3’
blink-182 recently released a live video for “Anthem Part 3” the opening track off their newest album, ONE MORE TIME.
The video is made up of footage of their massive shows recorded during their worldwide reunion tour. We also get some behind-the-scenes footage of the band goofing off backstage and saying hello to loyal fans.
Watch the video below.
If “Anthem Part 3” gave you major FOMO, you’re in luck because blink-182 will be back on the road next year. Check out all their dates here.
Watch Dave Grohl perform an extended version of 23-minute epic ‘Play’
Dave Grohl has shared the only live performance of his epic 23-minute instrumental “Play,” which he extends to 36 minutes.
Recorded during Warren Haynes’ 30th Annual Christmas Jam in 2018, the live version features Grohl accompanied by Greg Kurstin on keyboards, Chris Chaney on bass, Drew Hester on percussion, and guitarists Jason Falkner, Alain Johannes, Barrett Jones, and Asheville-based busker Abby the Spoon Lady.
Watch it below.
“Play” was originally composed and performed entirely with Grohl on every instrument. The recording process was captured in a two-part documentary of the same name, released in 2018.
Tours on sale this week
You Me At Six will celebrate 10 years of their fourth album, Cavalier Youth, with a 10th anniversary headline UK tour. The trek launches February 9th in Wolverhampton and wraps up February 18th in Portsmouth. Get all the details here.
Avenged Sevenfold will hit the road again next year for the third leg of the “Life Is But a Dream…” North American tour. The tour starts March 6th in Buffalo, New York, and concludes March 31st in Newark, New Jersey. Poppy and Sullivan King will provide support. See all the dates here.
The Jesus and Mary Chain recently announced a 2024 EU/UK tour in support of their upcoming album Glasgow Eyes. The tour kicks off on March 22nd in Manchester and runs through April 24th in The Hague. Tickets are currently on sale.
IDLES have extended their previously announced 2024 international tour with new dates in North America, Mexico, the UK, and Ireland. See the full list of dates here.
