Hard Times releasing a "history of punk," going on tour (Killing Time playing Brooklyn show)

TheHardTimes.net has been consistently delivering witty punk satire since 2014, and now they’re also putting out a book, The Hard Times: The First 40 Years, on October 29. The synopsis reads:

From the comedic minds behind TheHardTimes.net comes the most accurate reporting on punk and hardcore culture in music history

Since 2014, The Hard Times has been at the forefront of music journalism, delivering hard-hitting reports and in-depth investigations into the punk and hardcore scene. From their scathing takedown of Kim Jong-un after he appointed himself the new singer of Black Flag to their incisive coverage of a healthy Lars Ulrich being replaced by a hologram, the site has become a trusted source for all things counterculture.

Now, in this zine-style “historical retrospective,” the writers behind the site reveal their humble roots, documenting The Hard Times’ ascension alongside the rise of punk. With original articles from their ‘archives’ commenting on ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s punk, as well as fan favorites from the aughts onward, this comprehensive examination of the scene will make readers dust off their Doc Martens and creepy crawl their way to the nearest pit.

There’s also an accompanying book tour, where Hard Times founders Bill Conway and Matt Saincome will be in conversation with Hard Times contributors. The tour begins in NYC on release day at The Strand (10/29) and Conway and Saincome will be joined by fellow First 40 Years editor Krissy Howard. Tickets (including an option that comes with a signed copy of the book) are on sale now.

The day after the event at the strand, there will also be a release party at Brooklyn’s Saint Vitus (10/30) with sets from NYHC vets Killing Time and rising hardcore bands Wild Side, Rule Them All, and Perfect World. Tickets for the show (including an option that comes with the book) go on sale Wednesday (9/18) at noon.

The Hard Times will also celebrate the book at The Fest in Gainesville, and at events in Boston, DC, Portland, and San Francisco. All dates are listed below the flyer for the Brooklyn show.

Hard Times – 2019 Book Tour Dates
10/29 (Book pub day) The Strand – New York, NY
10/30 Saint Vitus – Brooklyn, NY with Killing Time, Wild Side, Rule Them All and Perfect World
11/1-11/3 Fest – Gainesville, FL
11/6 Brookline Booksmith – Boston, MA
11/7 Politics & Prose (Union Market)– Washington, DC
11/11 Powell’s – Portland, OR
11/13 Green Apple Books (Inner Sunset) – San Francisco, CA