Currently holed up in a cabin deep in the woods in upstate NY working on new material. Getting deep in the shit, news on new stuff coming next week. We are secluded far outside civilization, both physically and mentally.

Conversation I just had with someone about my hostage calm shirt

Them:	you believe in same sex marriage?
Me:	well, yeah
Them:	why?
Me:	do you believe in love?
Them:	of course I do
Me:	well so do I.

8:50 am • 19 May 2012 • 23 notes

Just added brand new Ballots/Stones Tank Tops for the summer! We also have limited edition Cardinal Red and Army Green versions of the Ballots shirts in sizes up to 3XL. As usual 10% of the proceeds go to benefit Equality Maryland in the fight for marriage equality there. Pick up some swag at www.hostagecalm.bigcartel.com

2:23 pm • 18 May 2012 • 41 notes

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

shittygreg:

lewisandhisblog:

My Heart To Joy - “All Of Life Is Coming Home” (Live at Madison Arts Barn - 5/17/11)

A year ago today, the Connecticut punk group My Heart To Joy played their final show ever, a benefit performance for Mitch Dubey, who was murdered in March of last year. A year ago today, they finished their set with this song. The energy was incredible. To this day, I don’t think I’ve ever had an experience quite like I did at the Madison Arts Barn that night, listening to my favorite band in Connecticut play one of my favorite songs. Before the final cathartic burst at the very end, the band signalled the entire crowd to come up onto the stage. For a moment, it felt like time froze as we all sat up there waiting for the band to resume playing. Listening to the recording back, it really wasn’t very long, but to me it felt like a lifetime.

____________________

This year, Topshelf Records released an LP featuring songs from all of the bands who performed that night, including Snowing, Hostage Calm, and Algernon Cadwallader. Buy it or listen to it for free online HERE.

Fun fact. The break was there because every member of the band handed their instruments to other people so we could all stage dive. It was sick

9:30 am • 18 May 2012 • 71 notes

PropertyOfZack Special : : The Allied Force

propertyofzack:

PropertyOfZack is beyond excited to finally be launching The Allied Force with Chris Martin of Hostage Calm. The special Contributor Blog will be an ongoing series with Cmar where he will discuss his thoughts on the current political and social environment, conduct interviews with bands on these issues, discuss music, and much more. In his first post, Cmar explains the creation of The Allied Force, showcases his point of view on the current social and political climate, dives into same-sex marriage, and so much more that we are honored to host on the site. Read the first entry into The Allied Force below and make sure to keep coming back for more!

An Introduction to The Allied Force:
I named this blog the Allied Force for a reason. We live in a time where each political and social issue that dominates our government’s attention seems to affect only some of us: a region, a constituency, a race, a creed, a class. The issues are sliced up nicely as to target however small a group of people that will not form a political obstacle, and to convince the others that this small group forms a threat to the national interest, to normalcy.

This blog came was born about ten minutes after a conversation I had with the Galluccio family at a Hostage Calm New Jersey Marriage Equality Rally. Michael and I were having a casual conversation backstage in celebration of the show and the cause and discussing our plans. Something struck me about the sincerity of a very simple statement, one that you might glance over at first. “We need the allies, man. The allies make the difference. [Gay families] are here fighting for our own rights, but we need people who understand this to join us. They need to see it’s not just about US, ya know. We need support from across the spectrum.”

This was this moment when a lot of separate issues converged on this one concept: the Allies. I started to realize that I am an Ally.

I’m straightedge, and I oppose the War on Drugs.
I’m an American citizen, and I oppose the War on Immigrants.
I’m a graduate, and I oppose the War on Students.

The list goes on. In fact, if there’s one thing that’s a defining feature of my political orientation, it’s that I am an Ally. And as an Ally, I can see that there’s a singular problem that’s plaguing America.

Our politics are driven by one crucial flaw: as a nation of people(s), we’re absolutely addicted to regulating the social lives of those around us. North Carolina’s new marriage amendment is not the disease. It’s merely a symptom of the more central illness in America of everyone needing to interfere with everyone else on everything. We need to recognize that anti-gay, anti-choice, anti-immigrant: it’s all interwoven. And as Allies, we need to recognize our role as standing against the great, nationwide assault on individual choice. On EVERY issue. This is where the Liberals, the Conservatives, the Libertarians, the Socialists, people from across the spectrum of punk/underground music meet and can find agreement. This is where we become the Allied Force.

So with this blog, let us meet. Together we can form the civic union across the spectrum that challenges the legal institutions which target the few, affect the many, and require the Allies to make real change.

A New Narrative on Same-Sex Marriage: The War on Love

Read More

4:00 pm • 16 May 2012 • 36 notes

Obama representing.

2:08 pm • 10 May 2012 • 63 notes

On The Events of the last 24 hours…

It’s been a whirlwind of good and bad news for the last twenty-four hours. Tom Gabel, North Carolina, Obama. We’ve seen some real bright spots in humanity, people showing courage to stand up for themselves and others. We’ve all seen some really cruel moments in human history, where we as a people chose the cheap route of cowardice over the bold task of tolerance.

In North Carolina, the people have voted in an overwhelming majority to enshrine their anti-gay marriage policy into their state constitution. Upon hearing the news, I was filled with anger. I levied blame. I blamed our President for his ongoing silence. I blamed the religious leaders and the GOP who have each committed themselves to preserving discrimination at all costs. I blamed a state government that was so intolerant, it derided its own people’s free choice; and so arrogant, it codified its hate into its Constitution. I wanted to smash it, the whole fucking thing.

But really, at its heart, bullshit like this is not the fault of our politicians and religious leaders. Our leaders’ actions are the symptom, not the disease. You know who’s the real problem.

Us.

Whether it’s the “Will of the Many” choosing to impose injustice on our fellow citizens, or the silence of the many in the face of a blatant wrong: the problem is ours. We can blame our government, we can blame our society, we can blame our culture. But at the end of the day, it’s our problem, and it’s ours to change.

People like Tom Gabel and President Obama have shown us that real courage to address these issues still exists. Tom Gabel’s coming out as Transgender has done more to shine a light on LGBT issues than anything in recent punk history. The strength and courage that must take is literally beyond me. Within the same political millisecond, the highest office in America revealed its support for Marriage Equality and showed us what it looked like to go from a silent bystander to an ally.

I believe there’s a lot more courage and strength where this came from. There is a growing dissatisfaction with the never-ending War on Love. We plan to continue our work in this area and we want you to join us.

In the near future, we will be releasing a documentary by our friend Lukas Hodge that captures the New Jersey Marriage Equality Rally we held with H2O and the growing movement within the punk scene today.

Second, I will be launching my new blog called THE ALLIED FORCE at PropertyOfZack next Wednesday. This blog will discuss the delicate issues of our social politics by bringing together people from across the political spectrum. The blog will have a little bit of everything: I’ll submit some written work, interview a couple of my friends, and probably have a little fun while I’m at it.
Stay tuned and spread the word.

May Love Prevail,
Cmar

6:25 pm • 9 May 2012 • 94 notes

Austrian alps. Overdrive Fest was awesome today, this tour rules. I love Anti Flag.

2:17 pm • 21 April 2012 • 5 notes

Here’s an epic photo of AF. Amazing first show of tour, thank you Luxembourg.

4:49 am • 16 April 2012 • 14 notes

ATTN NYC: OUR LAST U.S. SHOW TIL WARPED TOUR

We will be playing New York City on Saturday April 7th for our final American show before taking a break to work on our album. This S/T era was a very special time for us. It took our band across the world and gave us opportunities we never imagined. It made us realize the musical potential we had as a band, and propelled us to become better musicians, writers, and performers. Most importantly, it made us realized the role we could play in our community and in our scene. We couldn’t have asked for more.

We are lucky to have this show at Andrew WK’s legendary venue, SANTOS PARTY HOUSE and with our great friends I AM THE AVALANCHE in their hometown. The Northeast has always been our home, and we’re stoked we get to have a sendoff in New York City. To our loyal friends in CT, Long Island, and the whole metro area, we hope to see you there in support. Carpool, take the train, etc. This gig should be one to remember.

Following this show, we will be flying out for our European Tour with ANTI-FLAG and RED CITY RADIO. Our American friends can see us again this summer on the second half of the VANS WARPED TOUR. We will have more news concerning a new album in the coming weeks.

Our sincerest thanks for your enduring support,

Hostage Calm

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE: http://santospartyhouse.com/event/index/id/2731

RSVP TO THE FACEBOOK HERE: http://www.facebook.com/events/304230872983577/

2:42 pm • 4 April 2012 • 5 notes

runforcoverrecords:

ryanrussell:

Today’s my 31st birthday, I’d like to give you a present…

Nervous Energies Best of Vol. 2
Download [http://www.mediafire.com/?xsmhm8s81vuhzsw]

1. Tigers Jaw - Distress Signal (Nervous Energies session)
2. Anthony Green - How It Goes (Nervous Energies session)
3. Catnaps - Kiss Like A Statue (Nervous Energies session)
4. Cheap Girls - Ruby (Nervous Energies session)
5. The Clippers - Can’t Help Myself (Nervous Energies session)
6. Dead To Me - Modern Muse (Nervous Energies session)
7. Eisley - Please (Nervous Energies session)
8. Emperor X - Canada Day (Nervous Energies session)
9. FENCES - From Roses (Nervous Energies session)
10. The Green Seed - Crack Kills (Nervous Energies session)
11. Hellogoodbye - Getting Old (Nervous Energies session)
12. Hostage Calm - The M Word (Nervous Energies session)
13. Lucero - The Only One (Nervous Energies session)
14. The Menzingers - Male Call (Nervous Energies session)
15. Minus The Bear - My TIme (Nervous Energies session)
16. Mixtapes - Morning Sex and AM Radio (Nervous Energies session)
17. Ninja Gun - Li’l Help (Nervous Energies session)
18. Owen - The Armoire (Nervous Energies session)
19. Saves The Day - Threes Miles Down (Nervous Energies session)
20. Screaming Females - Wild (Nervous Energies session)
21. Stay Ahead Of The Weather - Get Old or Die Tryin’ (Nervous Energies session)
22. Tigers Jaw - Moshi Moshi (Nervous Energies session)
23. Transit - 1978 (Nervous Energies session)
24. White Wives - Another City, For A New Weekend (Nervous Energies session)

This is 100% free, you can share/post it wherever you like.

Hell yeah @ track 1. This rules!

1:43 pm • 4 April 2012 • 243 notes

Orlando tonight!! Lake Worth + Tampa + Jacksonville up next…

avalancheunitednyc:

Orlando, we’re coming tonight. Who’s coming to hang?? Lake Worth tomorrow, Tampa on Sunday, Jacksonville on Tuesday, Charlotte on Wednesday, VA Beach on Thursday. And then next Friday is Teaneck NJ and then NYC on Saturday (April 7th), GET READY

12:38 pm • 30 March 2012 • 4 notes

Avalanche Tour Update

Hey world,

We’re having a blast on tour with I Am The Avalanche and we just did four dates with the fine gentlemen in Red City Radio. They are supremely handsome and pretty good musicians to boot. We’ve still got a bunch of dates left so come and hang out-

3:07 pm • 28 March 2012 • 1 note

HUGE WEBSTORE SALE

$5 T Shirts and $15 Hoodies in our webstore. Help us make room before tour!

http://www.hostagecalm.bigcartel.com

7:09 pm • 12 March 2012 • 4 notes

avalancheunitednyc:

Holy fuck, 3 weeks til our headline tour starts in Philly with the Hostage Calm gang. Banquets, Red City Radio and Timeshares are joining up on various shows too.

Spread the word, hope to see all you lovely people somewhere along the way…

3:15 pm • 28 February 2012 • 24 notes