Berlin

This edition of In Defense of the Genre looks at 20 bands from the mainstream pop punk era paying tribute to the comparatively underground legends who influenced them, through the lens of cover songs that still sound great today.

It's like a John Hughes soundtrack performed live, with Violent Femmes, The Church, English Beat, Public Image Ltd, Gary Numan, Marc Almond and lots more also playing this one-day LA fest.

Plus: The House of Love, The Bush Tetras, Big Country, Pronoun, DMX, Cam'ron, Quasi, Garcia Peoples, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, and more tour-related news.

Just about every area of recorded music was hit by the fire, from jazz to punk to cabaret to comedy, new wave, historical speeches, metal, hip hop, you name it.

The B-52’s are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year -- their classic debut LP came out in 1979 -- with a big tour that also includes synthpop icons OMD as well as fellow '80s-era band Berlin on most dates.

"If I were running this festival, I would want to take a position on this. I would want to say: 'I'm sorry, we don't want your money, because we're worried about where it comes from.' So it is a whitewash actually." - Brian Eno

The Milwaukee festival also includes Red Hot Chili Peppers, Willie Nelson, P!nk, Michelle Branch, The Moody Blues, Car Seat Headrest, Third Eye Blind, Big Thief, and so much more.

The Moonlandingz, featuring Lias and Saul of Fat White Family and Sheffield's Eccentronic Research Council, made their NYC live debut on Saturday (10/3) at East Village club Berlin...

Brooklyn's Dead Leaf Echo will release a new 7", "Lemonheart," on September 15 via Moon Sounds. It's the first single from their new album they've been making with Jorge Elbrecht (No Joy, Tamaryn) and "Lemonheart" was mixed by Monte Vallier (Wax Idols, Weekend…

C3 Presents (soon to be part of Live Nation?) and their various partners announce another fest:Lollapalooza announces Lollapalooza Berlin happening at Tempelhof Airport, September 12-13, 2015...