Spike Polite and SewAge is never going to be invited to play the Super Bowl Halftime Show. But if they ever did, some shit would seriously get shaken up. A few corporate sponsors might not be too happy.

This is a band that doesn’t just sing about the things they believe in - they live it. They don’t just talk about what’s wrong with society right now - they are doing something about it. This isn’t a band that is saying “fuck the system”, they’re saying “this isn’t right. What are we going to do about it?” From human rights to mutual aid to housing equity to police brutality, Spike Polite and SewAge is stepping up and saying “we’re not rolling over for you, whoever you are”. This is a band that throws a lot of words at you, but the word “compromise” is not in their vocabulary.

Featuring underground veterans Spike Polite on lead guitar and vocals, Anthony Romano on drums and guitar, Michelle Shocked and Heide Miklitz on bass, and Johnny Arkansas on drums, the band has carved out a niche in the NYC underground punk scene that is hard to ignore. We caught up with the band to get some of our many questions answered.

Best Bones is a band from Queens, New York blending alternative rock, indie, and punk into a distinctive sound defined by unforgettable hooks, soaring anthems, and electrifying rhythms. The band consists of Abeer Khalique, Brendon Conroy, Brendan Leitch, and Greg Calisi—four musicians who joined forces in 2023.

Their debut release showcases the band’s versatility, weaving seamlessly between indie rock’s introspection, punk’s raw energy, and alternative rock’s expansive soundscapes. Lyrically, Best Bones takes listeners on a journey through the spectrum of human emotion—joy, hope, longing, and loss—delivering anthems that feel both personal and universal. With their magnetic chemistry and a sound that resonates deeply, Best Bones is carving out their place in the independent rock scene — one powerful performance at a time.

Hailing from New York City, Dr. Ex and The Break-Ups are self-described freakbeat garage punk that gets the soirée swinging - imagine "? & The Mysterians" after an all night drug orgy with The Kinks.

We believe that description speaks for itself, so let's get to it!

Unapologetically loud, ferociously raw, and fueled by the chaos of everyday life - The Car Bomb Parade isn’t just a band, it’s a riot wrapped in distortion and ferality. Hailing from New York City, they don’t care about fitting into a box; they’re here to push the boundaries of what that box looks like.

With roots in punk, hardcore, and a dose of the most chaotic rock ‘n roll, The Car Bomb Parade blends breakneck riffs, pounding drums, and venom-laced vocals into a live show that feels like a fuse lit at both ends. It’s not about perfection; it’s about the release, the middle finger in the air, and the communities that come together to bear witness.

They’ve shared bills with The Casualties, 7 Seconds, Scowl, The Bronx, Fear, The Vandals, The Cro-Mags, DOA, Leeway NYC, DRI, The Suicide Machines, Who Killed Spikey Jacket, and Less Than Jake; melted faces at every dive, festival, and DIY venue within reach; and best (or worst) of all they’re just getting started. Whether you’re in the pit or screaming along from the sidelines, one thing’s for sure: when The Car Bomb Parade shows up, it’s not just another show ... it’s a detonation.

To call Jon "Soda" James multifaced would be an understatement. He's one of the most interesting guys you'll ever, ever meet. He's a legit humanist and caring person. And he's fiercely dedicated to his principles, artistic and personal. He unapologetically lives life on his terms. His band, Coventry Carols, not surprisingly hews to the same principles, and you'll quickly see that in this interview. This guy is real. We caught up with him for an interview, and we hope you check it out.

But rather than our introduction, let's hear from Soda himself.

Hi everyone! I'm Jon Soda James or just, Soda. I'm a longtime musician, writer, artist ... masochist, whatever. I do not care or wish to sell myself in any particular way any longer. Make of it what you will. I wear glasses, my closet is a sea of black tee shirts I still have a wallet chain and as much as I want to hide under a rock I want to show you everything at the same time. "It is what it is" couldn't be more accurate. And my band, Coventry Carols, I love it and I love spending time with those guys and just being honest and creating songs that we can all sing together if you choose to join us.

The Colourflies are an alternative rock band hailing from Spokane, Washington, known for their unique blend of psychedelic and shoegaze influences. Their sound is characterized by an ethereal mix of obscured vocals, heavy guitar distortion and effects, and overwhelming volume, which aligns with the shoegaze subgenre. The band, fronted by singer/guitarist Matt Legard, also incorporates thoughtful lyrics and guitar riffs that have been compared to the grunge movement of the 1990s. With deep-rooted influences from 80s and 90s indie labels like SST, Twin Tone, and Sub-Pop, The Colourflies have forged a sound that is both experimental and melodic.

The band has been active for several years, releasing multiple albums and EPs. The Colourflies have collaborated with Blackhouse Records and have gained a following through live performances, music videos, and their presence on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. The band's dedication to their craft is evident in their prolific output and their commitment to creating a unique and immersive musical experience. They are also funny as fuck.

Bass guitarist and vocalist Mark Sokoll, known professionally as CHAKA, has been an active force in the New York City music scene since 1986, when he first picked up the bass guitar and joined Terminal Confusion (NYHC). His musical journey includes playing bass guitar and contributing background vocals for a variety of punk and metal bands, such as Hypoxia and Leeway.

CHAKA began as a side-project for Sokoll while he was the bassist for Darkside NYC. The project’s sound draws heavily from the raw energy and dark atmospheres of bands like Celtic Frost, Venom, and Cro-Mags. CHAKA is strongly influence by anthropolofy and prehistory and are considered the progenitors of cave metal, a monicker that Sokoll embraces.

GIFTSHOP was founded at Warren Street Studios, NYC in 2007, uniting members of Rochester's Bee Eater with NYC's The Hi-Scores. GIFTSHOP electrifies audiences with dynamic live shows earning them a dedicated following. The band's skilled songwriting and execution of multi-genre material is the genius of GIFTSHOP with Meghan Taylor's powerful vocals leading the way. The band has played at countless East Coast venues, primarily in New York City. Band members are originally from Rochester, New York, Dothan, Alabama, and Manhattan, NYC – but GIFTSHOP the band calls Astoria, Queens - where they are cult-icons – home. These Astoria indie scene- makers are also, apparently, an extraordinarily tidy band. Filling out the lineup is Matt Santoro on lead guitar and backing vocals, Jordan Kramer on drums, and Damian Eckstein on bass and backing vocals (and also responsible for one of the coolest bass intros we’ve know, but we’ll get to that).

NYHC Comics was founded in the fall of 2012 by two long-time friends, Debo Da Pro and Lee Farrelly, who shared a passion for punk, NYHC, comics, and horror. After attending a New York Comic Con event, they felt they could "do this & do it better," leading to the spontaneous creation of the name "New York Hardcore Comics". The company was built on a DIY ethos, with the founders doing everything themselves, from building shelves to salvaging glass cabinets from the garbage. They opened a physical store the following year, which was a community hub that catered to their customers, friends, and family by finding rare items they knew they would appreciate. The founders believe that punk, metal, hardcore, reggae, and ska have influenced the comic book world in countless ways, from the art and storylines to the artists themselves.

This review was written in 2024.

I pretty much stopped listening to new music around the year 2000. Hate to sound like a cranky old man or an elitist snob, but around then my favorite bands started to let me down, and the new music coming out (nu metal; formulaic, lazy hiphop; the prevalence of autotune) didn’t hold my interest. The Interrupters put out a very good album six or seven years ago, and at some point I did a deep dive into Rancid’s back catalog, Overkill and The Dance Hall Crashers, but that was pretty much it. I was happy with what I had. And then I heard Butterbrain’s 2019 EP.

This may be the only product out there that has it’s own rhythm section. And not only are they hard-working entrepreneurs, they are personally very nice guys (if you’re new to knifetwister records, we don’t interview dicks).

The Dispoze-a-Bowl® smoking pipe represents a distinctive offering in the smoking accessory market, positioned as an economical, disposable, yet potentially reusable alternative to conventional pipes crafted from materials such as glass, wood, or corn cob. We had a chance to catch up with CEO Rob Coscia and COO Mike Caldarella.

The creative force behind NYC ska/punk/funk pioneers Butterbrain. Hailing from Queens, his career spans stints in bands as diverse as White Trash, Murphy’s Law, Skarhead and Hash.