The way I discovered new artists as a kid was through blink-182's Atticus compilations and Vagrant Records' Another Year On The Streets compilations. Those two volume based compilations introduced me to bands that would go on to influence my taste in music for the rest of my life. I know the methods of discovering bands has changed and comps like these are no longer relevant. I don't care though. Fuck playlists that want you to pay to be on them and curators that don’t even care about the music. These are bands I personally dig that I think are underrated. They’re from all over the world and they're a goddamn delight. I love them and I hope you find one or two that you do too.
Like the Blink tributes, this comp is for charity. All Spotify revenue will go to Cancer Research. This will likely be the last comp for a while to be for charity. I need to make some money back on these projects to continue to keep the lights on.
A Tribute to Blink-182 Pt. 2 Available Now
A Tribute to Blink-182 Part 2: Fight Cancer, Fund Music is out now!
I wanted to let everyone know that A Tribute to Blink-182 Part 2 will have the same charitable goals as Part 1. All Spotify streaming revenue will go to the Cancer Research Institute. All other revenue will be going towards paying bands for this project and the next. Also, I have a mini update about my family's cancerous affairs. My mom had successful surgery on her skin cancer and the lumps on my dad’s lungs turned out to be non-cancerous. Wins all around!
The Unfortunate Reality of Charities
I thought I’d briefly touch on why I chose the Cancer Research Institute for donations:
I tried to establish a relationship with several smaller charities and research groups in hopes that I could work with them in a more collaborative way. I was instantly shot down by almost every charity. Apparently, the art of simply donating money to these causes is a trying endeavor unto itself. Several organizational reps instantly rejected working with me simply due to the project involving the name Blink-182. Being associated with an artist that has a sense of humor is seemingly bad for charitable business. The other factor that I was unaware of was that they wanted nothing to do with any kind of fundraiser pertaining to music. The very medium that every human being on earth relates to is apparently taboo when it comes to cancer research/charity.
That’s why I ultimately chose the Cancer Research Institute. They at least didn’t say no to donations. They also have somewhere around 86% of every dollar go to actual non-administrative purposes. A reasonable management to patient ratio.
I’m incredibly disappointed in our society that we have reached the stage where donating to charity and general kindness is rejected in favor of exclusively working through corporate events. Artistically oriented charity endeavors seem more genuine than Walmart trying to grift money off customers for tax purposes.
End rant.
A Tribute to Blink-182: Fund Music, Fight Cancer
My mom has cancer, my dad had cancer, three of my four grandparents died of cancer, and now Blink-182 front-man Mark Hoppus has been battling cancer. This bullshit has dramatically impacted my personal and professional life. That’s why I’ve changed up the way Pacific Ridge Records will do business. I want to generate a tiny amount of positivity to other people experiencing the same shitty medical issues that my family and families around the world have been dealing with. I mean, Mark Hoppus is the reason I’ve been in this business since I was in high-school. He’s the reason I love the music I love, and more importantly, he’s the reason Pacific Ridge Records exists. That’s why I know I have to contribute something more.
The way I’ll do my part in battling this awfulness is Pacific Ridge Records (Fund Music, Fight Cancer) will give talented and highly vetted artists money to create new music that falls into genres similar to bands like Blink-182, New Found Glory, Senses Fail, Taking Back Sunday and all bands like them both newer and older. On top of funding new music, all Spotify stream revenue from this new content will go to the Cancer Research Institute in an attempt to do some good. The rest of the revenue will go back into funding the recording of additional new songs by unsigned but highly vetted artists. This process allows for indie artists to get a little extra cash that they may not have received otherwise, all while doing a project that results in some positivity being injected into what is an awful reality for most people. I don’t know if this is the best move, or the right move, but I do believe putting new music out into the world and helping those in need is a positive force in a world that needs a little more positivity.
Forever Starts Today Video
Forever Starts Today shows some bonus NFG love in the form of a brand new video that’s out today!
A Little Love From NFG
This is all I hope for. I just want New Found Glory and all of the other artists I've produced tribute albums for to know that they've made a difference in my life. It may seem like hyperbole, but New Found Glory had an impact on my life, my style, my love of music and my friends. Thank you Chad for dropping a little love on the project and making the whole endeavor worthwhile.
A Tribute to New Found Glory is Out Now
It's been 11 months; I'm tired, I'm relieved and I'm indescribably appreciative of every single band that took the time to participate on this project. Please support indie bands. They don’t have a money machine propping them up, they have genuine love for music and are doing it for essentially free. Stream this comp, their tunes, or both, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
Also, New Found Glory, I went to at least a half-dozen of your shows. I was with my best friend for every single one of those shows and I will cherish those memories because of it. You guys are the best and I hope all of us did you the justice you truly deserve. You guys are the best.
A Tribute to New Found Glory Available 3/30
It’s been 22 years since New Found Glory released ‘Nothing Gold Can Stay’ and one whole year since I started this project. The result is 33 New Found Glory songs being covered by 33 artists and all of them will be available on 3/30.
Get your pre-save on here or your preorder on here.
Black and Blue
To be center stage, floor level and hear this played live would be a wonderful gift. Thanks to Scary Hours for bringing the energy and making me long for open venues.
Oxygen
I was a fan of With Clarity the instant they chose to cover the song ‘Yellow Angels’ by Senses Fail.
Something I Call Personality
On everyone of these comps there’s a band that I believe could absolutely go from indie to next level. On the Scene Vol. 6 it was Gold Steps, on the Senses Fail tribute it was Forever Starts Today, on the NFG tribute it’s NU-95. These guys have the soul of old school The Used while having a top notch visual style that’s all their own. They also have impeccable taste, considering they chose a top three New Found Glory song in ‘Something I Call Personality’.
Connect The Dots
When the Clock Strikes went the obscure route and chose to cover ‘Connect the Dots’. A track from New Found Glory’s appropriately named live album ‘Kill It Live’. Thank god they dug deep. The tune brought back a flood of memories of being at Chain Reaction while NFG recorded that album.
On My Mind
Bernard Cozy has by far the most diverse sounding catalog on the comp. He ranges from hip-hop to alternative. That’s why it makes sense that he chose what’s arguably the most eclectic song in the NFG discography in ‘On My Mind’.
Understatement
eleventyseven is the only band that predates Pacific Ridge Records (2003) on the comp. When you choose bangers to cover like ‘Understatement’ it’s easy to see why they’re still busy making the scene better.
Merry Christmas
The Future Idiots have come out of their coma just in time to bless us all with an ORIGINAL Christmas tune (and a few covers). Merry Christmas!
Head On Collision
Familiar Things covered Senses Fail and NFG. A vastly underrated accomplishment given the disparity between the two artists. If that doesn’t earn them some pop-punk rep and love, I don’t know what will.
Ready and Willing
The range of talent by Steven Neevs is absolutely off the charts. A solo artist that covered Ready and Willing by New Found Glory, by himself, full band style, with Smoking Popes-like vocals, layered with hardcore vocals. Words don’t do talent like that justice.
Truth of My Youth
Sit down and listen to a short story about how Dusty Miller became a participant on this tribute. I had honestly never heard of Dusty Miller. I initially reached out to a separate artist entirely. Eventually that contact evolved into this relatively new artist asking to do a song. I’m not going to lie. I’m always skeptical at first. New bands are always risky propositions. After one spin of their tune ‘Catchphrase’ I concluded that their home country of Sweden is the pop-punk epicenter of the world and that I was in musical love. They then recorded this absolute jam and got me pumped about their growing legend and discography. Goddamn I wish all stories ended this happily.
Singled Out
Atlantic Wasteland has the most distinct sound of any participant on the comp. They’re not rock, pop-punk, hardcore or alternative. They can’t be pigeon-holed. They just make goddamn good music. They were also the very first band I wrote down when scouting bands for this project. They absolutely did not disappoint either. The first two-thirds of the song is awesome, but the last third just rocks so hard.
All Downhill From Here
Pop-punk hardcore. None do it better than The Anchor. None. Nearly every artist wanted to cover ‘All Downhill From Here’. I saved it for The Anchor because they’re the best. Period. The fact that they’re my number one streamed artist on Spotify for 2020 might have had something to do with it too.
