Tag Archives: Punk Rock

Exploring Fire Sale: A Dive into Punk Rock’s Newest Supergroup and Their Evocative Singles

Shockingly, punk rock as a genre has few supergroups – its own Traveling Wilburys or The Highwaymen (or The Highwomen, for that matter) – but it finds one in Fire Sale. The five-piece group consists of Pedro Aida from ShotClock and The Iron Roses on vocals, Chris Swinney from The Ataris on lead guitar, Matt Riddle from Face To Face and No Use For A Name on bass guitar, Brad Edwards from Weaver Street on rhythm guitar, and Matt Morris from 41 Gorgeous Blocks on drums. The band has three previous EPs: Fire Sale in March of ‘21, A Fool’s Errand in November of ‘22, and Long Overdue in July of ‘23. Now, they are back with a new single “The Albatross,” which was released by Negative Progression Records on February 9. 

Stream “The Albatross” here

Exploring “The Albatross”

While so much of punk is about youth, “The Albatross” is about the things you have to deal with as you get older. In this case, the concern revolves around the safety of one’s children. The world is an increasingly cruel place. Far too many kids who already feel like outcasts go to school every day, and instead of being greeted by love and acceptance, they are subjected to bullying from the kind of kids whose parents were bullies. This mentality is perpetuated throughout the generations. Struggling with fear, they find it difficult to maintain good grades and often resort to substance abuse as a means to numb their pain. 

As I listened to the song, I couldn’t help but think of Nex Benedict. They were the nonbinary Oklahoma teen who died on February 8 – the day before this single was released – after being assaulted and beaten in the bathroom of their high school. If an albatross is a continuing problem that makes it impossible to achieve something, then violence against children is the albatross that threatens to pull down the next generation. 

The Albatross single artwork
The Albatross single artwork (click to enlarge)

About The B-side: “I Remember Damage”

The B-side track is so good the single should be thought of as a double-A side single. “I Remember Damage” is no throw-away track. It begins not with a note but with a cracked voice of a woman saying “My memories are the same as yours…” The voice is haunting almost, like a faint radio transmission, pleading for someone, anyone, to listen. She fumbles through her message, struggling to articulate her thoughts while processing her emotions. It feels like a lonely plea for connection. The first notes of the song show the group members melodic-punk pedigree and has an early-80’s ska feel, like a recently unearthed outtake from the first Police album. 

Within seconds, the song shifts into a high gear with driving power chords. “‘I come in peace,’ is what you said/we never seem to move on.” Was the woman’s voice the voice of the person Pedro Aida is referring to? Perhaps a relationship that should have never begun and yet persisted, dragging both people down with it, as if they were fated to destroy each other instead of moving on.  “What do you say? What do you say?” hints at a relationship where there’s plenty of talking but not much listening.

Whether depicting a lingering, unhealthy relationship or the broader theme of feeling lost and damaged, the song resonates. The chorus of “We’re just damaged goods” could feel sad if it wasn’t sung with such a feeling of collectiveness: we are damaged, but we are not hopeless. Punk has always been about unity and that feeling of lost, wandering souls finding a place of acceptance, and that’s the heart of “I Remember Damage.” 

Following the three EPs, and now the one-two punch of “The Albatross” and “I Remember Damage” single, I hope that Fire Sale has a full-length album in the works. For now, though, I’ll hit replay on “The Albatross” as soon as “I Remember Damage” fades out, and just enjoy the ride.

Fire Sale online:

AZ’s The Venomous Pinks Debut the Documentary ‘We Must Prevail: The Making of Vita Mors’

Arizona femme punks The Venomous Pinks are debuting the new documentary, We Must Prevail: The Making of Vita Mors, which chronicles the creation of their latest album Vita Mors, out now on SBÄM Records.

The film was directed and edited by Alexander Thomas and filmed in Santa Ana, CA, at Maple Sounds Studios, with cameos by Brenna Red (The Last Gang), Linh Le (Bad Cop/Bad Cop), Cameron Webb (Alkaline Trio, Motorhead), Dan Palmer (Death By Stereo, Zebrahead), and Stefan Beham (SBÄM Records).

The Pinks had a busy 2023, touring relentlessly with the likes of T.S.O.L., Dead Kennedys, The Queers, Less Than Jake, The Toasters, and appearing on festival stages at Punk Rock Bowling and more. 2024 promises more of the same, as the band has already announced its first shows of the year, including an appearance at Camp Punksylvania in July.

Stream We Must Prevail: The Making of Vita Mors here:

“[The Venomous Pinks] might singlehandedly make you believe in the power of feminism, whoa-oh gang vocals, and punk pride to change the world. The songs can wax as melodic as the GoGo’s or roar as persuasively polemical as Bad Religion.”- Offshelf

Upcoming The Venomous Pinks Shows

  • 3/22 – Santa Ana, CA @ Observatory w/ Mac Sabbath, DI
  • 4/6 – Honolulu, HI @ Nextdoor
  • 4/7 – Paia, HI @ Paia Bay Coffee and Bar
  • July 5-7 @ Camp Punksylvania – Gilbert, PA

“Mesa, AZ’s own The Venomous Pinks have more than earned their place amid punk’s most weird and riotous acts. This bare-bones punk jam blends heft, heart, and pop-punk vibes into a bona fide earworm.”- Phoenix New Times


Vita Mors is out now via SBÄM Records

Vita Mors was recorded, engineered and produced by Grammy winner Cameron Webb, who also worked with iconic bands like Motorhead, Social Distortion, Pennywise, NOFX, Alkaline Trio and many more. The Venomous Pinks set out to be the next big thing on that list.

Stream Vita Mors here

Vita Mors Vinyl

Vinyl currently available in Yellow/Purple and Purple Marble,
also on CD

Buy at SBÄM Records webstore
(US | EU | UK | AUD)

If members of Bikini Kill and TSOL musically collided in a Russ Myer movie, the soundtrack scoring the scene would be orchestrated by The Venomous Pinks.

The Venomous Pink group photo
The Venomous Pinks
| Photography:
Ben Trivett

Hailing from Mesa, Arizona the three-piece trio creates an unapologetically, uniquely addictive, in-your-face punk sound, that instantly makes the soul hurt so good, you can’t help but yearn for more.