• BRZOWSKI, just back from a Euro tour with MOSHE, has some news to share upon his return: His sophomore album, A Fitful Sleep, will be released through MILLED PAVEMENT RECORDS on June 18. It'll be full of kittens and rose petals, we're quite certain.
• Radio/emo rockers PINSKY are preparing for an early summer release of their first full-length. They recently filmed a video with TRACK SEVENTEEN PRODUCTIONS in Nashua, NH, for "Losing Touch," and the new album's first single, "Half Full," was featured last week on ABSOLUTEPUNK.NET. They've had some starts and stops getting things going, but expect plenty of big singalongs and great harmonies.
• SPARKS THE RESCUE are out of the gate nicely with Worst Thing I've Been Cursed With, hitting #5 on BILLBOARD's Alternative New Artist Chart, and #11 on the HEATSEEKER chart (these are things that don't really mean much to you, but you can kind of guess they'd be good things). We're told by the press folks that the kids at FYE and HOT TOPIC are gobbling the disc up. You won't see them around much this summer, though, as they've been added as opener for LUDO on the, wait, let us check our notes, yes, "Space Dracula's Basketball Expo Tour," kicking off July 14. We did not bother to Google "Space Dracula Basketball Expo." The tour takes them into the second week of August — see them at the MIDDLE EAST in Boston, July 20, if you need a fix.
• HOBOE's drummer/trumpeter JON BANGS is playing his last (and 41st, we're told) gig as drummer for the band May 28 at Geno's. Bangs, who actually was able to play trumpet and drums at the same time, will be replaced on drums by CHRIS BELL, but will still contribute trumpet and to the songwriting from time to time.
• A preliminary note tells us that a new band called CROSS SWORDS, featuring members of FOAM CASTLES, BRENDA, HARU BANGS, ASTRONAUTALIS's band, and Boston punk legends RINGERS will be going into the studio this month to record. Watch this space.
