Japandroids Announce New Album, Watch Trailer

Canada's Japandroids will return at some point in 2017 with Near To The Wild Heart Of Life. No release date, cover or tracklisting has been released, however, they shared a trailer. Take a look!

VINTAGE CLIP: Danzig on 'Jon Stewart Show' in 1994

In celebration of Halloween, here is Danzig performing "Mother" on The Jon Stewart Show in 1994.

Aimee Mann on 'Colbert'

Watch Aimee Mann perform "Can't You Tell" on Late Night with Stephen Colbert as she was backed by Jon Batiste and Stay Human.

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Dillinger Escape Plan – Dissociation

The mathcore band announced that after 20 years together and Dissociation was their swansong. If you are a fan of this band, this was a bittersweet farewell as one of the greatest and heaviest live bands around was saying goodbye but in typical fashion they were not doing it quietly. Dissociation is their way of letting fans knows they were going out with a bang on their explosive career.

FINAL GRADE: A-

The Pretenders – Alone

Linking up with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, Ohio’s finest Chrissy Hyde and the Arcs frontman bring their sounds and styles together from the Midwest. It is easily one of the best Pretenders records in decades as Auerbach gives the band a much needed modern twist but still maintain their identity.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Crocodiles – Dreamless

Six records in and the California noise pop band continue to bring a different atmosphere to their music with every record. Dreamless takes a slightly more shoegaze approach but still challenges their past material.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Kings of Leon – WALLS

The brothers Followill are back and return with their most solid record since their 2008 breakout, Only By The Night. Singer Caleb Followill assess his life and career on WALLS making it their most personal to date. The band started  rebuilding with 2013’s underrated Mechanical Bull but now come full circle.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Lady Gaga – Joanne

Mother Monster is back with her new album that is a hybrid of Americana, pop and rock. Gaga dives into her soul and comes out with an appreciation for life, women and herself as Joanne becomes her most personal album to date.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Green Day – Revolution Radio

It is no surprise that Green Day released a record during this election season but we are glad they did. The band come back and bring forth the political punk bite that made them enter a new chapter in their career back during Green Day’s American Idiot days.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Jimmy Eat World – Integrity Blues

How does an emo band survive in 2016? They look at how Jimmy Eat World have done it. The emo vets are back with one of their most solid records since Futures and show they still got some sugar in their tank.

FINAL GRADE: B+

CRX – New Skin

The Strokes’ Nick Valensi links up with a new band and Josh Homme to produce a biting rock and roll record and allows the guitarist to take center stage.

FINAL GRADE: B

Bell X1 – Arms

The Irish rockers return with their 10^th record and for fans it is another collection of solid songs for their arsenal.

FINAL GRADE: B

Sting – 57^th and 9^th

Sting returns to his rock roots and looks at his illustrious career with his latest. The artist was humbled by the passing’s of Bowie and Prince this year and took to the studio to assess what his life and career have been with this batch of songs.

FINAL GRADE: B

American Football

It has been over a decade since American Football released their debut and the emo indie heroes returned with a record for fans who have waited and grew up as they got older.

FINAL GRADE: B

Mike Doughty – The Heart Watches While the Brain Burns

The former Soul Coughing frontman’s new solo record is another lyrical adventure for fans to indulge as he adds to the growing collection of fantastic records he has given out over the years.

FINAL GRADE: B

Kaiser Chiefs – Stay Together

Using a crowdfunding campaign to record Stay Together, Kaiser Chiefs made a record totally for the fans as they didn’t experiment too much but crafted the same lovable rock and roll they became popular for.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Two Door Cinema Club – Gameshow

One of the finest bands around have released one of the most confusing records of their career. Two Door Cinema Club were known for poppy hooks and catchy riffs but on Gameshow they really try and push for a radio single in an era when radio singles are not as important as they once were.

FINAL GRADE: C

Native Tongues Documentary In the Works

A documentary on the iconic Native Tongues is in the works. The group which featured A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, The Jungle Brothers, Queen Latifah, Black Sheep and others.

Read: A Tribe Called Quest Announce 1st Album in 18 Years

Their story briefly told in the documentary Beats, Rhymes and Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest, now, a stand alone film has been launched called Speaking in Tongues: The Legend of the Native Tongues Posse. 

Listen To Our Essential Tribe Called Quest Playlist on Spotify  

The film has launched a Kickstarter campaign which you can contribute to HERE.

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Joey Bada$$ took to Instagram earlier in the week to confirm that his upcoming album, A.A.B.A., is "90 percent done." He alluded that following his current tour he will finish the upcoming LP.

Johnny Marr was asked by The Guardian which band he preferred working with the most and the former Smiths guitarist said Modest Mouse. He was with the band from 2006 to 2009 and said: "Yeah. People don’t believe it when I say that. I love Modest Mouse so much because the chemistry of those guys was a real brotherhood. They were a great American band, and I really wanted to be in a great American band.”

Mat Whitecross whose film Oasis: Supersonic chronicles the rise of the iconic British band said that the Gallagher brothers will reunite the group when "there is less pressure." He told Billboard: "But the way Noel talks about the fans at the end of the film is something he comes back to again and again. He’s very generous about their contribution, and I think he would do it for [the fans]. Noel has never said no, but he makes jokes about it. Liam says, ‘Come on, let’s get back on the road!’ He’s keen to do it. The reason it hasn’t happened earlier is they’re in a position of luxury. They’re both rich men. They don’t have to be chasing the opportunity to try and get back together. So hopefully if they do come back, it’ll be for the right reasons, and because they both want to do it.”

On Friday, President Obama called into Sway in the Morning and listed his favorite emcees from past and present. The Commander in Chief said: "I think the young guys, Kendrick and Chance [the Rapper] are doing amazing work. I love Drake, and the girls love Drake, and, you know, so, he’s commercially just doing great, and unbelievably talented. And, you know, Jay Z’s still the king. I mean, you know, he’s got a track record. Same with Kanye, so there’s a lot of talent out there, but when I look at who’s breaking new ground, Kendrick and Chance, those guys are doing just amazing work."

Common on 'The Tonight Show'

Watch Common perform "Black America Again" with BJ the Chicago Kid on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

AFI Announce New Album

In January, AFI will release their 10th album, AFI (The Blood Album). 

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklistings, below, and hear the first 2 singles.

1 Dark Snow
2 Still a Stranger
3 Aurelia
4 Hidden Knives
5 Get Hurt
6 Above the Bridge
7 So Beneath You
8 Snow Cats
9 Dumb Kids
10 Pink Eyes
11 Feed from the Floor
12 White Offerings
13 She Speaks the Language
14 The Wind That Carries Me Away

Run The Jewels Spoof Halloween Song on 'Colbert'

Run the Jewels helped Stephen Colbert spoof a Halloween song the host wrote called "The Halloween Wiggle" on The Late Show. Take a look!

Chris Martin on 'Conan'

Coldplay's Chris Martin went solo to perform his band's song "Hymn for the Weekend" on Conan.

A Tribe Called Quest Announce 1st Album in 18 Years!

On Thursday night, fans of A Tribe Called Quest were given news they have waited nearly 2 decades for -- a new album will arrive on November 11!

Listen To Our Essential Tribe Called Quest Playlist on Spotify 

The influential group released their final album, The Love Moment, 1998. It was what the late Phife Dawg famously said in the 2011 documentary, Beats, Rhymes and Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest: "that record should have been called the  'The Last Movement.' There was no love between us at that time."

Read: Remembering Phife Dawg

Taking to social media, the group released the long awaited info and paid tribute to their fallen member who the record is dedicated to. The album will feature Busta Rhymes and Consequence.

Read: Rest In Peace Phife Dawg

The album currently does not have a title or tracklisting. Read the social media passages, below:

A photo posted by ATCQ (@atcq) on Oct 27, 2016 at 6:40pm PDT

A photo posted by ATCQ (@atcq) on Oct 27, 2016 at 6:39pm PDT

A photo posted by ATCQ (@atcq) on Oct 27, 2016 at 6:39pm PDT

Pussy Riot Releasing EP, Watch New Videos Now

Pussy Riot will release a surprise EP called xxx on Friday. The band have created music videos for each of the 3 songs, "Make America Great Again," "Straight Outta Vagina," and "Organs." The songs were produced by David Sitek of TV on the Radio. Watch the videos, above, and below.

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On November 19, Linden Boulevard at 192nd Street in the St. Albans neighborhood of Queens, New York will officially be renamed "Malik 'Phife Dawg' Taylor Way," in honor of the late Tribe Called Quest member, Phife Dawg, who passed away earlier this year. Phife's wife, Deisha Head Taylor was instrumental in working with Councilman Miller's office in choosing the name of the street as well as the logistics regarding the unveiling. She says, "The thought of having Linden Boulevard at 192, renamed to Malik 'Phife Dawg' Taylor is indescribable. This is a perfect representation of who Malik was, and what Queens meant to him. Whenever he mentioned Queens, Linden Boulevard at 192, was a focal point of reference, so I am certain he would be pleased with having it renamed in his honor. We are extremely grateful for those who were part of the entire process; from the initial effort to the signing of the bill, this historical moment means so much to his family, friends, and fans."

The Mezingers will release their new album, After the Party, in February. Take a look at the tracklisting, below:
1. Tellin’ Lies
2. Thick as Thieves
3. Lookers
4. Midwestern States
5. Charlie’s Army
6. House on Fire
7. Black Mass
8. Boy Blue
9. Bad Catholics
10. Your Wild Years
11. The Bars
12. After the Party
13. Livin’ Ain’t Easy

Next month, Refused will release the Servants of Death EP containing new songs and live cuts. Take a look at the tracklisting, below:
1. Servants Of Death
2. Stolen Voices
3. Thought is Blood (live)
4. Dawkins Christ (live)
5. The Shape of Punk to Come (live)
6. Tannhäuser / Derivé (live)

Matt Berninger of The National gave an update to Rolling Stone about the band's new record, saying it is going to be "dark." He said: "I’m going very dark with the new National record, which is a place I love to go. People have always described our music as dark and say it goes very melancholy, somber places. They haven’t heard anything yet! This next thing is crazy.” He added: "It’s about marriage, and it’s about marriages falling apart,” he said. “I’m happily married, and but it’s hard, marriage is hard and my wife and I are writing the lyrics together about our own struggles and it’s difficult to write, but it’s saving my marriage. Not saving my marriage, my marriage is healthy, but it’s good for everything! And so it’s gonna be a strange record, and I’m crazy about it.”

Nick Valensi of The Strokes discussed what it is like to shift into the frontman role in his new band, CRX. He told NME: "It took a little bit of time for me to figure out how my voice sounded the most natural and, to be perfectly honest, at first I really hated my own voice. I could barely stand to listen to it and I obviously didn’t want to feel that way so I just woodshedded with the singing and figured out the different ways I could sing and how I could sing in a way that wouldn’t bug me, so it did take a little while. And with the lyrics too, it did take me a little while to get the hang of being a lyricist too."

Nathan Followill of Kings of Leon discussed how the band nearly fell apart following the success of Only By The Night and trying to recreate that. He told Rolling Stone: "You put so much pressure on yourself after that – to at least maintain that momentum you’ve got going — and we really had a shitty time in the studio trying to do that. Trying to chase a hit or trying to recreate success you had on previous things. So going into this record we had the frame of mind of no pressure to recreate any success we’ve had prior to this.”

VINTAGE CLIP: Oasis on 'Letterman' in 1995

In a scene from the just released Oasis documentary, Supersonic, the band is seen playing  The Late Show with David Letterman in one clip. Now, relive the full performance in this VINTAGE CLIP.

Conor Oberst on 'Kimmel'

Watch Conor Oberst perform “Till St. Dymphna Kicks Us Out” and “Gossamer Thin” on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

VINTAGE CLIP: Eric B & Rakim on 'Yo! MTV Raps' in '92

Following the announcement of Eric B & Rakim reuniting for the first time in nearly 25 years, we look at this VINTAGE CLIP of the duo performing "Know the Ledge" on Yo! MTV Raps in 1992.

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Sad news to report, Pete Burns of Dead or Alive has passed away at 57. The singer passed due to cardiac arrest according to reports. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.

Iconic British punks The Damned have confirmed they will be recording a new album that they hope to release next year. It will be the goth punks first album of new material in 9 years.

A new film about Nico has been greenlit. The biopic titled Nico, 1988, follows the former Velvet Underground member on her 1987 solo tour where she dabbled in heroin and other hard drugs. Italian director Susanna Nicchiarelli is set to make the film and spoke at the Rome Film Festival saying: "Most people think, as Andy Warhol once said, that after her experience with Velvet Underground and the Factory – and after having had sex with most of the rock stars of those years – Nico simply 'became a fat junkie' and disappeared. But is this how her life really went." Danish actress Trine Dyrholm is set to play the musician and star. The film is slated to come out next year.

The Chemical Brothers are set to reissue their entire catalogue on vinyl for the very first time. The reissues will come out before the end of the year. 

HR of Bad Brains Subject of New Documentary, Book

H.R. of Bad Brains has had one Hell of a life and now it will be documented in an upcoming documentary and book.

Read Our 2010 Interview with Bad Brains

The film and book, Finding Joseph I: An Oral History of H.R. From Bad Brains, will be out in January. 

Take a look at the book cover, above, and the documentary trailer, below:

Live Pix: Masters of Ceremony @ Barclays Center

On Saturday night, hip-hop icons from across generations came together for Masters of Ceremony at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Our own RICH D SMOOV was there to capture the action.

CL Smooth

 Jim Jones

 MOP

 Rakim

 House of Pain

 Rick Ross

 Meth & Red

To see more pictures of the event, LIKE us on FACEBOOK
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Live Pix: Czarface @ Studio of Webster Hall

On Friday night, after 4 years together Czarface featuring Inspectah Deck, Esoteric and 7L, made their NYC debut at the Studio of Webster Hall. 

Our own RICH D SMOOV was on hand to capture the action. 

Live Pix: Satan at Marlin Room of Webster Hall

On Friday, British metal icons Satan performed at the Marlin Room of Webster Hall with Canada's Cauldron. 

Our own RICH D SMOOV was on hand to capture the action. Take a look!

Satan

 Cauldron 

Watch The PBS Special 'Hamilton's America'

As Hamilton continues to be the toast of Broadway over a year since it debuted, PBS aired a special about the hip-hop musical called Hamilton's America. Watch it now.

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Iconic hip-hop duo Eric B and Rakim have announced on Twitter that the duo are reuniting. The duo called it quits in 1993 and have since gone on to have solo careers.

It's official. You heard it here first.

— Eric B and Rakim™ (@EricBandRakim) October 20, 2016

We are back.

— Eric B and Rakim™ (@EricBandRakim) October 20, 2016

Preparations are under way for #EricBandRakim's return. It's been a long time...

— Eric B and Rakim™ (@EricBandRakim) October 22, 2016

Prince's estate will release a Purple Rain deluxe edition next year that will feature a slew of unreleased content. According to a press release the reissue between NPG Records and Warner Bros. was agreed upon before he died.

Trash Talk have released a surprise EP called Tangle, you can get it for free by clicking HERE.

Prince Greatest Hits Album Announced

Six months after the shocking death of Prince, his estate has announced that they will release a greatest hits album called PRINCE4EVER next month of 39 of his hits and featuring an unreleased song, "Moonbeam Levels."

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below:

01 1999
02 Little Red Corvette
03 When Doves Cry
04 Let's Go Crazy
05 Raspberry Beret
06 I Wanna Be Your Lover
07 Soft and Wet
08 Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad
09 Uptown
10 When You Were Mine
11 Head
12 Gotta Stop (Messin' About)
13 Controversy
14 Let's Work
15 Delirious
16 I Would Die 4 U
17 Take Me With U
18 Paisley Park
19 Pop Life
20 Purple Rain
21 Kiss
22 Sign 'O' The Times
23 Alphabet Street
24 Batdance
25 Thieves In The Temple
26 Cream
27 Mountains
28 Girls & Boys
29 If I Was Your Girlfriend
30 U Got The Look
31 I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man
32 Glam Slam
33 Moonbeam Levels
34 Diamonds and Pearls
35 Gett Off
36 Sexy MF
37 My Name Is Prince
38 7
39 Peach
40 Nothing Compares 2 U

Janet Devlin Announces Christman EP

Next month, Northern Ireland songstress Janet Devlin will release a Christmas EP called Little Lights. 

Read Our 2015 Interview with Janet Devlin

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below:

1. Wake Up It's Christmas
2. Merry Xmas Everybody
3. Merry Christmas Mum & Dad
4. White Christmas
5. Something Beginning With Christmas
6. Christmas Kiss

The Kills on 'Corden'

Watch The Kills perform "Whirling Eye" on The Late Late Show with James Corden.

Flatbush Zombies on 'Kimmel'

Watch Flatbush Zombies perform "Bounce" and "Trade Off" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Watch Oasis Record 'Champagne Supernova'

A clip from the forthcoming Oasis documentary, Supersonic, has been released. Take a look at Liam Gallagher nailing the first recording of "Champagne Supernova."

Great Soundtracks: 'Friday'

21 years after its release, Friday is still a fan favorite and certifiable classic. While the movie still makes people laugh, the soundtrack is still one of the greatest to ever be released. The album took West Coast artists from the era and had them craft new songs for the original motion picture soundtrack.

Artists like Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Cypress Hill, Mack 10 and others created the feel, mood and vibe of what a Friday in Compton would be like. The album was released in April 1995 but is a record chock full of summer jams. A year after it was released, it went double platinum and in 2015, the record was pressed for the first time on vinyl to celebrate it's 20th anniversary.

Recommended Reading: 'Bowie'

As the world will hear the final recordings from David Bowie on the Lazarus soundtrack, we look into a book that dives deep into his tabloid making, androgynous sex life. Released as a paperback in the weeks after his death earlier this year, author Wendy Leigh explores the side of Bowie that was not heard in song but only in imagination. She takes a close look as to how the man named David Robert Jones became David Bowie and the people that inspired him along the way. She also explores the sexual conquests of the singer that had followed him for years prior to his marriage to Iman.

Bowie, the biography, is a book unlike any other about the star. After combing through archival interviews and conducting her own for the book, fans read about a Bowie they never knew. They read about the man who was a father of 2 but also worked around the clock making his art. It is one of the far more interesting and insightful looks about The Thin White Duke. 

The Flaming Lips Will Give Us New Material Next Year

In January, The Flaming Lips will release their new album, Oczy Mlody. 

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below.

01 Oczy Mlody
02 How??
03 There Should Be Unicorns
04 Sunrise (Eyes of the Young)
05 Nigdy Nie (Never No)
06 Galaxy I Sink
07 One Night While Hunting for Faeries and Witches and Wizards to Kill
08 Do Glowy
09 Listening to the Frogs With Demon Eyes
10 The Castle
11 Almost Home (Blisko Domu)
12 We a Famly

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In the new issue of GQ Style, Kendrick Lamar confirmed that he and Rick Rubin are working together. He also said that he is looking to change his sound, saying: "It’ll always have some type of DNA in my music. But me, as a person, I grow. I'm like a chameleon. You know? That is a gift and a curse for me. But more so a gift, because it never puts me in a box. And my ability to express and still make the connection wherever I go, that is my high point. That’s something I pride myself off of." No word as to when the collaboration will ever be released.

In an interview with Zane Lowe, Trent Reznor confirmed he is working on new Nine Inch Nails music. The artist said: "Things are going good, and when we have something that we think is excellent we will unleash it upon the world.”

Common is linking up Hamilton director Thomas Kail and How to Make It in America creator Ian Edelman for a new Fox TV series called 93 Til Infinity. The show will be about fictional rappers who hit it big in the 90s and struggling to find a voice in modern America. No release date has been set.

Speaking to WTOP, hardcore icon Ian MacKaye congratulated fellow DC band Bad Brains in their recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee. MacKaye said: "I don’t know who the nominators are, and frankly don’t care, but the person who put Bad Brains' name in the hat is either visionary or they’re savvy and trying to bring some legitimacy to their brand.” He also called them "the greatest band in the world," adding: "it would be pretty startling” if the D.C. punks were to be inducted into the Rock Hall. He added, “If the members of the Bad Brains, if this is something they want, I’m happy for them. I know the impact they had on my life, and that of other people.”

Due to "TIDAL/Apple bullshit," there will never be a Watch the Throne 2, according to Kanye West. The rapper told fans at a recent concert in Seattle, the next chapter in the successful Jay Z / West collab will never happen, saying: "It will never be a Watch The Throne 2. You know why? Because that’s the reason why I wasn’t on the song. I wasn’t on the song cause of Hov. Cause it’s this TIDAL/Apple bullshit. And this shit be getting me tight every time I perform this muthafucka.”

Austra Details 'Ambitious' Third Album

In January, Austra will release what she calls her most "ambitious" album to date. Her third work, Future Politics, "calls for radical hope," according to a press release. 

Adding: "Not just hope in the future, but the idea that everyone is required to help write it, and the boundaries of what it can look like are both fascinating and endless. It’s not about ‘being political,’ it’s about reaching beyond boundaries, in every single field.”

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, and hear the first single, "Utopia."

We Were Alive
Future Politics
Utopia
I’m A Monster
I Love You More Than You Love Yourself
Angel In Your Eye
Freepower
Gaia
Beyond A Mortal
Deep Thought
43

Tinariwen Detail New Album

Mali guitar collective Tinariwen will release their new album, Elwan, in February. The record features appearances by Kurt Vile, Matt Sweeney, and Mark Lanegan and was recorded in Joshua Tree Park in California.

Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, plus hear the new song, "Ténéré Tàqqàl."

o1 Tiwàyyen
02 Sastanàqqàm
03 Nizzagh Ijbal
04 Hayati
05 Ittus
06 Ténéré Tàqqàl
07 Imidiwàn N-Àkall-In
08 Talyat
09 Assàwt
10 Arhegh Ad Annàgh
11 Nànnuflày
12 Intro Flute Fog Edaghan
13 Fog Edaghàn

Eminem Returns With New Freestyle, Working on New LP

Don't worry I'm working on an album! Here's something meanwhile. https://t.co/QX3cdpqFD2

— Marshall Mathers (@Eminem) October 19, 2016

Eminem took to Twitter to announce he is working on a new record and also release a near 8-minute freestyle called "Campaign Speech." Take a listen and prepare to be blown away. It might just be the greatest 8 minutes in music history.

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The nominees for the 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have been announced. They include:
Bad Brains
The Cars
Chaka Khan
Chic
Depeche Mode
Electric Light Orchestra
J. Geils Band
Jane’s Addiction
Janet Jackson
Joan Baez
Joe Tex
Journey
Kraftwerk
MC5
Pearl Jam
Steppenwolf
Tupac Shakur
Yes
The Zombies
The winners will be picked in December and the ceremony will take place in April at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.

The Roots have confirmed they are working on their 17th album, End Game, which will arrive next year.

The Black Kids have confirmed they will release their first album in a decade next year.

In a tweet to fans, Grizzly Bear have confirmed they are almost finished on their new album. 

Album 90 percent done. Last update until you hear it

— Grizzly Bear (@grizzlybear) October 18, 2016

Band of Horses have announced 2 concerts to benefit the victims of Hurricane Matthew. The band will play 2 concerts in their hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, this week.

Live Pix: Dillinger Escape Plan @ Webster Hall

On October 15, The Dillinger Escape Plan played their final New York City concert before their impending break-up. The swansong was bittersweet and according to RICH D SMOOV "total havoc."

Take a look at his photos, below:

To see more pictures of the event, LIKE us on FACEBOOK
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