Fireworks To Go On Hiatus

Fireworks are going on hiatus after they have embarked on their upcoming shows in the UK and the States. The band posted this statement on Facebook:

'There's no way to express how much your love and support has meant to Fireworks - and furthermore, to us as individuals over the last 8 years or so. After these upcoming gigs are ripped, we will be taking a break for awhile to give the other sides of life a try. We really don't know how long "awhile" is, but you'll be the first to know when we figure that out. Hope to see everyone this Spring and Summer. Fireworks Forever'.

We wish them all the best for the future.

Fireworks Announce UK Tour Dates

Fireworks have announced some UK tour dates around their slot at Slam Dunk. No support has been announced as of yet. Check out the dates below:

First Slam Dunk Announcement Revealed

The first round of bands for Slam Dunk have been announced. They include You Me At Six, Taking Back Sunday, Lower Than Atlantis, Reel Big Fish, Millencolin, Goldfinger, The Wonder Years, Neck Deep, Bayside, Fireworks, Knuckle Puck, Gallows, Crossfaith, H20, Comeback Kid and Bane. Tickets go on sale this Friday. 

Best of 2014

It's that time of year again where we get to look back at our favourite albums and EPs of the year, and let's be honest here, there's been a few good ones. From the return of New Found Glory and Four Year Strong, to Real Friends' first full length, pop punk definitely proved it wasn't dead (it even had it's own UK tour). Here's a list of things that we've loved in 2014 (in no particular order) and we'll see you guys in the new year...

   

Albums

Candy Hearts - All The Ways You Let Me Down

Forever Came Calling - What Matters Most

Handguns - Life Lessons

 Major League - There's Nothing Wrong With Me

Me vs Hero - I'm Completely Fine

Moose Blood - I'll Keep You In Mind, From Time To Time

 New Found Glory - Resurrection

Real Friends - Maybe This Place Is The Same And We're Just Changing

Rust Belt Lights - Religion and My Ex

Transit - Joyride

Neck Deep - Wishful Thinking 

Fireworks - Oh, Common Life

Trophy Eyes - Mend, Move On

Yellowcard - Lift a Sail

Gnarwolves 

EPs

The Story So Far - Songs Of

Knuckle Puck - While I Stay Secluded

Four Year Strong - Go Down In History

Seaway - All In My Head 

Homebound - Coming Of Age

 Boston Manor - Driftwood

Six Time Champion - Expecting Honesty

Trash Boat - Look Alive 

Nathan Detroit - Peace Of Mind

State Champs - The Acoustic Things

Thank you to everyone who has supported us in 2014 and we hope you all have a Happy New Year!

Fireworks Release New Video For Bed Sores

Fireworks have released a new video for their song 'Bed Sores', which is from their record 'Oh, Common Life'. Watch it here:

Fireworks Stream Oh Common Life

Fireworks are streaming their new album 'Oh, Common Life' over on Red Bull Music. Take a listen here. The new album is officially released March 25th.

Fireworks Release New Song 'Glowing Crosses'

Pitchfork are streaming a new song from Fireworks' upcoming album Oh, Common Life. The new album will be released March 25th. Listen to Glowing Crosses here.

Fireworks To Release New Album

Fireworks are releasing a new album. Their follow up to Gospel, 'Oh, Common Life', will be released on March 25th on Triple Crown Records. 

The Works of Steve Klein and Chad Gilbert...

You know when you listen to an album and it’s really great? Well, we've come to the conclusion that some of our favourite albums have one common factor; they were produced by the offspring of one pop punk’s greatest asset's, New Found Glory. Even though Steve Klein recently parted ways with NFG (full story here), we thought we'd bring together a compilation of albums produced by Gilbert and Klein. Both have worked with a number of bands including Set your Goals, Fireworks, The Story So Far and Man Overboard to name a few. Obviously, the producers are the aren't the only factor that make an album great, you have the band themselves which is a pretty big one too but nevertheless we thought we'd bring to you our favourite albums produced by Chad and Steve.

Chad Gilbert:

1. This Time Next Year - Drop Out of Life
Absolute Punk said of Drop Out of Life 'Enlisting Chad Gilbert’s services was a good move in two ways. First off, it gained some attention for this record...Secondly, Gilbert absolutely kills it in the studio'. Unfortunately, This Time Next Year parted ways in 2012 but for anyone who's listened to the album will know how incredibly underrated it is. The band said of Gilbert in an interview with Property of Zack: "He is a really talented guy, especially when it comes to our genre". Gilbert's influences can be heard throughout the album especially with stand out tracks 'Get it, Got it, Good' and 'My Side of Town' which accolades New Found Glory.   

2.Fireworks - All I Have to Offer is My Own Confusion 

All I Have to Offer is My Own Confusion (The title was taken from a quote by author Jack Kerouac) was recorded in 2008 and released the following year. Gilbert not only lends his production skills to the album but contributes to the backing vocals and plays additional guitar. Dave from Fireworks said of Chad: Well first of all,[AIHTOIMOC] was created with Chad Gilbert, and that was really cool because we’d never had a producer or anything like that before. It was something new to us and it was a cool, collaborative process working with Chad'. 

3.Set Your Goals - Only Right Now and I'll Walk it Off

Gilbert recently recorded two songs with Set Your Goals which were only released digitally. Gilbert also performs vocals on Set Your Goals's song Our Ethos from their album This Will Be the Death of Us. The band's next album which will be released in 2014 is also being produced by Gilbert. 

4. A Day to Remember - What Separates Me From You

If you want to see Chad Gilbert in the studio with A Day to Remember please click here. Homesick, ADTR's previous album was also produced by Gilbert. More recently, Gilbert has also produced A Day to Remember's latest release Common Courtesy. 

5.Candy Hearts - The Best Ways to Disappear

This EP was released on Gilbert's own record label Violently Happy/Bridge 9 Records. In an interview with Alter the Press, Gilbert stated that the first time he heard Candy Hearts was when his band mate Steve was listening to Tongue Tied. He had this to say about the band: "I think what I love about the band is that, I feel like the punk rock/emo scene is filled with singers that sound very similar. They go for that one sound. When I heard Mariel’s voice, I was like, “Finally a singer that doesn’t stick to this formula.” She’s got her own sound and a unique sound". Gilbert's aim in producing the EP was to get Candy Hearts closer to their 'potential' as a band, tour and be promoted to reach as many people as possible.

Steve Klein:

1. Man Overboard - Self Titled

Man Overboard delivered Klein with his first producing gig which resulted in their self titled record. In an interview with Property of Zack Klein explains how he swapped numbers with Zac and ended up going producing for them. In the interview he stated: "It just came together with Man Overboard; Zac and I started talking and then the band stayed at my house and we vibed on the ideas. I told them that I wanted to get into producing and it was cool that they gave me my first gig. I’m really excited about how it came out"  

2. The Story So Far - What You Don't See

The Band's name came from the track The Story So Far from New Found Glory's album Sticks and Stones so it was inevitable that the TSSF/ Steve Klein mix would work in everyone's favour. Kelen Cappener stated in an interview with Alternative Press: Yeah, he came in to see what we were working on and gave us some pointers without hurting our integrity or trying to take over the creative process. He’s just an extra set of ears on the outside so he can advise us in certain ways. He has experience we don’t have, so it’s a good element in the process, as far as developing these songs.

3.State Champs The Finer Things

Albany natives State Champs started work on The Finer Things in a practice room at home in New York. Eventually the album was recorded with Steve Klein and Sam Pura at the Panda Studios in Fremont California. Tyler Szalkowski commented: 

“Working with Steve Klein and Sam Pura was amazing because they both have so much experience under their belts, they helped us make the best record we could possibly make.”

Credit to Alternative Press, Property of Zack,Alter the Press and Absolute Punk. 

Fireworks Post Sketchy Video

Look at this mystical shit fireworks have posted. What can it mean?

http://wearefireworks.com/

More bands announced for Slam Dunk 2013

I think us people at Pop Punk UK may be hyperventilating. After today's announcement not only have we learnt that Allister are playing Slam Dunk but we've now found out that Me vs. Hero and Transit will also be playing! As well as this we know The Story so Far, Man Overboard, The Wonder Years, Fireworks, Handguns and Four Year Strong will also be playing the festival. Well done Slam Dunk.

 

Handguns added to Slam Dunk 2013!

Handguns have been added to the Slam Dunk Line up. The festival starts in Leeds on Saturday the 25th of May, moves to Hatfield on Sunday the 26th and ends in Wolverhampton on the 27th. Handguns will be joining Four Year Strong, Man Overboard, The Wonder Years, Polar Bear Club, Fireworks and The Story So Far.