The roots of Against Me!’s rousing punk-folk sound lie in Tom Gabel’s guitar-and-stool troubadourship around his native Gainesville, FL, beginning in 1997. The then 17-year-old Gabel performed as a solo act wherever anyone would have him, drawing much influence from early acoustic protest music. The band around him would eventually solidify by 2001 — including guitarist James Bowman, drummer Warren Oakes, and bassist Andrew Seward — and get considerably louder as punk bands often do. But there would always be some anarchism and Billy Bragg in the raucous braggadocio. After a few initial 12″ and 7″ releases, Against Me! issued the fan-favorite Reinventing Axl Rose through No Idea in 2002. The underground hit blended elements of punk, folk, and country into socially conscious and impassioned anthems for late-night basement shows and bars. Continuing their reputation of always being on the road, countless tour dates were played around the country. The slightly more polished As the Eternal Cowboy followed from Fat Wreck in 2003, and after a DVD (We’re Never Going Home) and another 7″, the band returned with their most mature effort to date, 2005’s Searching for a Former Clarity. A subsequent headlining tour in support of the introspective and politically aggressive album saw the band proudly hitting every U.S. state. They signed to Sire Records in December 2005 and were back on the road by spring 2006 opening for the Alkaline Trio. That summer found Against Me! on the main stage at Warped Tour, their first time on the festival. Though the guys were officially now on the roster at Sire, they released the live album Americans Abroad!!! Against Me!!! Live in London!!! on Fat Wreck in August 2006. Recorded while on tour in London with Murder by Death, it harnessed the band’s notoriously invigorating live show as well as any album could. Finally, in July of the following year, the band’s major-label debut, New Wave, a decidedly more rock-oriented record produced by Butch Vig, hit shelves

Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of “The Hobbit” will have some familiar faces. “Lord of the Rings” trilogy actors Andy Serkis (Gollum), Ian McKellen (Gandalf) and Hugo Weaving (Elrond) will all reprise their roles, the director revealed on BBC Radio’s Simon Mayo program. “The Hobbit,” based on the book by J.R.R. Tolkien, is set before the events of the author’s “LOTR” series, and follows Frodo Baggins’ uncle, Bilbo, and his adventures in acquiring the one Ring. Del Toro intends on splitting the book into two films, and revealed on the program that Gandalf’s abrupt departure from Bilbo and the dwarves’ quest against the dragon Smaug – not narrated in the novel – will appear on screen as a means of further linking the film to Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” movies. “There is a whole other chapter, so to speak, which is the comings and going of Gandalf which are dealt with,” del Toro said. “People that know the lore know that Gandalf was delayed with a crisis… with a character that is very shady called the Necromancer that proves to be Sauron.” In the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, Sauron – a rival wizard to Gandalf – was played by Sala Baker. The director didn’t say if he would appear in the upcoming films. The first installment of “The Hobbit” is due in December 2011.

GWEN STEFANI has admitted that she is scared she won’t be able to write a song again. The singer, who has reunited with her band No Doubt after a five-year hiatus to release two solo albums, has revealed she is concerned about her lack of ability to write new material. No Doubt’s current summer tour will only feature the band’s greatest hits collection due to Stefani’s writer’s block. Speaking to ELLE magazine, she said: “I want so badly to write a record. I want to make every other songwriter jealous. But that’s not happening right now. I might never be able to write another song. “I always referred to No Doubt as a marriage because that’s what it’s like to be together for so long and to go through what we’ve been through. I can’t really have that relationship with them anymore. My priorities are always going to be my husband and my family now.”

Flag Day, is a day for all Americans to celebrate and show respect for our flag, its designers and makers. Our flag is representative of our independence and our unity as a nation…..one nation, under God, indivisible. Our flag has a proud and glorious history. It was at the lead of every battle fought by Americans. Many people have died protecting it. It even stands proudly on the surface of the moon. As Americans, we have every right to be proud of our culture, our nation, and our flag. So raise the flag today and every day with pride!

Properly Display Our Flag
There is a right way and a wrong way to display the flag. The American flag should be held in the highest of regards. It represents our nation and the many people who gave their lives for our country and our flag. Here are the basics on displaying the American flag: The flag is normally flown from sunrise to sunset. In the morning, raise the flag briskly. At sunset, lower it slowly. Always, raise and lower it ceremoniously. The flag should not be flown at night without a light on it. The flag should not be flown in the rain or inclement weather. After a tragedy or death, the flag is flown at half staff for 30 days. It’s called “half staff” on land ,and “half mast” on a ship. When flown vertically on a pole, the stars and blue field , or “union”, is at the top and at the end of the pole (away from your house). The American flag is always flown at the top of the pole. Your state flag and other flags fly below it. The union is always on top. When displayed in print, the stars and blue field are always on the left. Never let your flag touch the ground, never…period. Fold your flag when storing. Don’t just stuff it in a drawer or box. When your flag is old and has seen better days, it is time to retire it. Old flags should be burned or buried. Please do not throw it in the trash. Did you Know? There is a very special ceremony for retiring the flag by burning it. It is a ceremony everyone should see.Your local Boy Scout group knows the proper ceremony and performs it on a regular basis. If you have an old flag, give it to them. And, attend the ceremony.

After a disappointing box office for their 3-D concert movie and low ratings for their TV show, JONAS, Disney Channel-bred teen-poppers the Jonas Brothers are looking to bounce back with their fourth disc — the awkwardly titled Lines, Vines and Trying Times, which hits stores Tuesday — and their first world tour, the North American leg of which launches June 20 in Dallas. The global franchise power of the siblings — who have sold more than eight million albums in the past four years, were nominated for a best new artist Grammy this year and won an American Music Award for best breakthrough artist — was recently called into question by the New York Times and Entertainment Weekly. But if the three Jonas brothers — 21-year-old Kevin, 19-year-old Joe and 16-year-old (more…)

Newcomer Pixie Lott has achieved a dream start to her chart career by going straight in at number one with her debut single Mama Do. The 18-year-old former stage school pupil knocked US hip-hop superstars the Black Eyed Peas from the top slot. The only other new entry inside the top 10 was When Love Takes Over by David Guetta and US singer Kelly Rowland. In the album chart, rock band Kasabian made their debut at number one with West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum. ‘Next pop diva’ It is the act’s third album and follows on from Empire, which also went into the chart at number one in 2006. The band beat the Black Eyed Peas, whose new release The End made third place, behind last week’s chart topper from Scottish songsmith Paolo Nutini. The debut album from Little Boots, who topped the BBC’s Sound of 2009, was a new entry at number five. Bruce Springsteen’s new greatest hits package and the latest record from Placebo also made their debuts inside the top 10. Lott, who is due to release her first album later this year, is the first British female artist in UK chart history to go straight to number one apart from reality TV chart stars including Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke, according to the Official UK Charts Company. She responded to an advert in The Stage newspaper looking for the “next pop diva” and went on to sign with the management team who look after the Black Eyed Peas - who she has displaced in the chart.