words & photos by Bryan Bruchman

"We travel the world all year and then we always come home for Christmas, we're never away at this time of year, so it's about coming home to New Jersey for the holidays, getting back together with our family and friends,'' Bouncing Souls bassist Bryan Kienlen recently told Metromix Jersey Shore.

For many, this is the time of year when we surround ourselves with our loved ones, and it's no different for the Souls, Jersey punk icons who originally hailed from Basking Ridge before making their name on the New Brunswick punk scene and who now call the Jersey Shore home.

"My entire family's coming on the 26th, I'm sure some other band parents will be at some shows,'' Kienlen said. "(There will be) actual family and then like the Bouncing Souls family, and that extends all the way, that's everybody who goes to shows in Jersey and everybody around here in the metro area. This is home for us on a show level as well, it's like the home crowd, and so that's the vibe of the thing.'' [MyCentralJersey]

The Bouncing Souls kicked off their sold out, four night, holiday run at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ on Saturday night (12/26). I missed the first band, Detournement, but caught openers Blacklisted and Black Train Jack . Before the 20th anniversary-celebrating headliners began, the capacity crowd sang along in (loud) unison to Bruce Springsteen's "Born To Run," punctuated a few times through by a capella renditions of "Ole!" and "E.C.F.U." (neither of which was actually played by the band during their set).

It was a big and excited (but notably friendly and courteous) crowd, consisting mostly of longtime Souls fans and friends of the band. It served as a good start to the run of 2009 Home For The Holidays shows for the band who are entering their 3rd decade together (the final show, on Tuesday, features excellent openers Screaming Females and the afterparty will be DJ'ed by Souls song namesake, Lamar Vannoy!).

The show started early (7pm doors, first band at 7:30!) and was done before midnight. There was an afterparty down the street at Asbury Lanes that I'm going to bet was pretty awesome (The Measure (SA) were playing, so that's a good sign) but unfortunately I couldn't make it to that.

More pictures from the first of four shows (which continue tonight), including one of the fan-created setlist, below...

Continue reading "Bouncing Souls, Black Train Jack & Blacklisted @ the Stone Pony in NJ (night 1) - pics & setlist"

by BBG

The Bouncing Souls @ Webster Hall (more by Tim Griffin)

We're well on our way to making HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS the Jersey Shore's rockinest holiday tradition! This is our third year which marks the distinction between 'maybe we can pull this off' and 'a lifetime commitment'. We're happy to assemble a wild cast of our friends and comrades to entertain you and wish you well for the coming year. What's better than getting together with a couple hundred of your closest friends for the holidays and toasting each others' health? [The Bouncing Souls via press release]

The Bouncing Souls will play a four night residency at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ from Dec 26 - 30th as part of their 3rd annual Home For The Holidays series of shows. Each night features a different set of bands with:

• 12/26 getting Black Train Jack, Blacklisted, and Detournement
• 27th getting The Pietasters, a reunion of Worthless United, and Dave Hause
• 28th with their current tourmates Bayside, as well as P.O.S. & Static Radio NJ
• and on 12/30 with Chuck Ragan, Screaming Females, and The Night Brigade.

Tickets go on fan Pre-Sale this Wednesday, October 21st and Thursday October 22nd @ chunksaah.com, and then go on general sale on Friday, October 23rd.

Screaming Females continue to make NJ proud as they've also just announced a tour with the Arctic Monkeys.

Chuck Ragan was just in town over the weekend, bringing his Revival Tour to Gramercy Theatre on Saturday night.

Blacklisted are scheduled to play the Deathwish day party at Santos during CMJ.

The Bouncing Souls are currently on tour with Bayside and Broadway Calls, a tour which ends in early November. Full tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Bouncing Souls announce 2009 holiday shows @ The Stone Pony (openers include Pietasters, Black Train Jack, Blacklisted, Screaming Females...)"

photos by Tim Griffin

7 Seconds

It's been an eventful time for shows at Webster Hall in NYC. Nine Inch Nails played there Sunday night, and the Bouncing Souls celebrated their 20th anniversary as a band with two shows there on Thursday and Friday.

On Thursday they played with Lifetime (and None More Black). On Friday it was with 7 Seconds and Tim Barry of Avail (who played on the floor). Rob Vitale from Black Train Jack helped sing a song with 7 Seconds. Bouncing Souls covered "Good Lookin' Out" by Sick of It All with Lou Koller from Sick of It All on vocals...

"i haven't seen so many stage dives in sooo long. 7 seconds put on a phenomenal show!!! it was like traveling through a time vortex to an 80's hardcore show! the crowd wasn't even super young or anything like that, i was kind of surprised!

i think this was one of the best new york crowds i've been a part of yet. i don't think i caught one cell phone in the air taking video or 'tweeting' which is a rarity. everyone was part of the pit and everyone wanted to be. amazing.

the bouncing souls totally delivered too, and tim barry [even though i came in not knowing what to expect] put on a super awesome show too! great!!!" [:: smo ::]

Then slightly modified Bouncing Souls lineups then moved to Philly. 7 Seconds and None More Black played with them at the Troc on Saturday. Lifetime and Tim Barry played with them at the Troc last night (Sunday, 8/23).

Kevin Seconds, who recently sat down and talked to Greg Attonito for us, is now on a solo tour that keeps him in the NYC area for a while. Tickets are still on sale for shows at Asbury Lanes, Maxwell's, First Unitarian Church, and Union Hall.

We posted some pictures of the first Webster Hall show HERE. More from the second night, and that BS setlist, below...

Continue reading "Bouncing Souls, 7 Seconds, Lifetime, Tim Barry & guests played Webster Hall (pics & setlist) & The Trocadero"