Pop-punk outfit Yellowcard has announced a slew of late spring/early summer dates for 2026. With support from fellow punk rockers New Found Glory and the poppier Plain White T’s, the Florida-based band will kick off this run on May 6th in Atlanta, Georgia. Tickets and VIP are available at yellowcardband.com!
5/6 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
5/8 – Hollywood, FL – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
5/10 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome to Rockville 2026 Pre-Party
5/13 – Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
5/15 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple 2026
5/16 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed
5/17 – Milwaukee, WI – Landmark Credit Union Live
5/20 – Denver, CO – The Junkyard
5/21 – Sandy, UT – America First Field
5/23 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
5/24 – Woodinville, WA – Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
5/25 – Airway Heights, WA – BECU Live at Northern Quest
5/27 – San Francisco, CA – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
5/28 – Stateline, NV – Tahoe Blue Event Center
5/30 – Las Vegas, NV – Fontainebleau Las Vegas
5/31 – Santa Ana, CA – Observatory
6/1 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
6/4 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
6/5 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
6/6 – San Antonio, TX – Freeman Coliseum
6/8 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater
6/9 – Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
6/11 – New York, NY – Capital One City Parks Foundation Summerstage
Alt-rockers Magnolia Park are hitting the road this spring with special guests Hot Milk, Savage Hands, and South Arcade. Tickets and VIP are on sale now at magnoliaparkband.com!
Pop/punk princess Avril Lavigne has announced the spring/summer 2025 leg of her Greatest Hits Tour. This run features support from Simple Plan and We The Kings. Fefe Dobson will be replacing Simple Plan for the Canadian dates. Tickets are on sale now at avrillavigne.com!
5/18 – Moncton, NB – Avenir Centre*
5/20 – Halifax, NS – Scotiabank Centre*
5/25 – Boston, MA – Harvard University Athletics Complex
5/27 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC
5/28 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview
5/30 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
6/3 – London, ON – Canada Life Place*
6/4 – Niagara Falls, ON – Fallsview Casino Resort* (New date!)
6/5 – Niagara Falls, ON – Fallsview Casino Resort*
6/7 – Hershey, PA – HersheyPark Stadium
6/8 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
6/10 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
6/12 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
6/14 – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival 2025+
6/17 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
6/18 – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium
6/20 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
6/21 – Hollywood, FL – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino^
6/23 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place^
6/26 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
6/27 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
6/29 – Oro-Medonte, ON – All Your Friends Fest 2025+
Revolution Rabbit Deluxe is a Welsh band that expertly blends a multitude of genres, ranging from power pop and Brit rock to alternative/indie and punk. This four-piece outfit has carried the late 70s/early 80s punk rock and new wave movements into modern times, laying bare their growth and musical maturation with each release. So far, Revolution Rabbit Deluxe has given us four albums – Swipe Left (2019), Myths and Fables (2020), The Great Divide (2022), and Control Freaks (2023).
I recently had the opportunity to chat with the band about their history, influences, writing process, and much more!
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Mostly Music: First and foremost, how did Revolution Rabbit Deluxe get its start? And what is the story behind the band’s name?
Ant: The band originally met at a social group based around music for people with mental health issues. We released our first four CDs before a lineup change as several members needed to drop out due to other commitments. Now the band comprises: Lee – drums; Max – lead guitar; Jim – bass; and Ant – vocals and guitar. Ant, the only original member, has Asperger’s, both a blessing and a curse.
The name Revolution Rabbit Deluxe came to me while I was driving. I’ve had a lifetime love of rabbits and was playing with words that conjured humorous images. Transposing a rabbit face over the famous Che Guevara poster made me laugh, so I knew Revolution Rabbit was the name for me. I added the deluxe part to set us apart in some way. The name has nothing to do with certain adult entertainment aids.
MM: Funnily enough, now I have the image of Che Guevara with a rabbit face. So thanks for that… Did you all come from similar musical backgrounds – shared influences and the like – or did y’all have to find a way to blend several different styles?
Max: As a kid, I grew up on a diet of 60s and 70s classic rock and pop, then got into alternative rock, punk, grunge, and metal as a teenager. Although I’ve been playing guitar for longer, most of my previous experience in bands was as the drummer, so I’m more interested in incorporating rhythmic expression and simple melodic lines in my guitar playing rather than overly complex solos. When I joined RRD, I learnt that Ant (Rev Rabbit) and I shared a love of stuff like Pixies, Sonic Youth, Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins so those influences are probably the strongest ones in there.
Jim: I had an eclectic upbringing as far as musical influences are concerned- my parents were huge fans of Max Bygraves and similar vocal artists but my Norwegian grandmother turned me on to the 90’s black metal scene with groundbreaking bands such as Burzum, Emperor, Bathory and Darkthrone- she taught me to death growl like a monster. I also really like Bananrama.
Ant: I love guitar solo work that is rhythmic and lean. Lines that add to the song rather than show off the skill of the lead guitar. Max is exactly that, a welsh joey Santiago. Jim is a metal bass player with Scarsun, but he wanted to work on a different project, and so he fell right into place. His bass playing is not as frenetic as in his metal band but is solid and underpins the melodic changes. Lee, our drummer, is an exceptional talent. Able to play versatile styles and keep the beat driving forward.
MM: You guys released the album Control Freaksin October last year, which I got to review and enjoyed very much. Can you tell me about the writing and recording process for the album? Was it approached any differently from your previous works, and what was the frame of mind while piecing it together?
Ant: The writing process is usually the same. Riff, melody, vocals. But this time, I tried to write a few songs in reverse. With “Cult of Me Me Me,” I wrote the lyrics first, then the melody and then the riff. I found it an interesting process as the lyrics weren’t constrained by the metre of the melody. It was very freeing.
Max: Ant would send us mp3s of the tracks as they stood at the time so that we could add our parts in our own homes. The completed parts were sent back and slotted into the tracks and then mixed and mastered. It was kinda like working on a jigsaw puzzle.
Ant: The process was a little different to the past four albums. Instead of coming to the studio, we had the luxury of working on the songs at our own pace, allowing experimentation. The general vibe of the album was those aspects of our society which control us either consciously or subconsciously. The frame of mind was definitely anger tinged with frustration at the status quo. It was intended to be both reflective and inspiring to greater action. It resulted in an album of hard-hitting rockers and softer introverted pieces. Our biggest experiment was the orchestrally based Girl from Irpin based on the harrowing photo of a young girl who had been killed by a Russian rocket attack.
MM: “Girl From Irpin” was one of my favorite tracks on the album. It was definitely a standout. Do you have a favorite song on the album, or maybe just one you connect with a bit more than the others?
Ant: Thanks for the kind comment on “Girl from Irpin.” Two tracks were standouts from a writing perspective – “Fabian Control Freaks” and “G7 Countdown.” Both subjects close to my heart. The control of everything for our so-called betterment by people that have everything in their ownership and control. It’s easy for people sat on billions telling us what to do when most of us are close to the poverty line. It gets me so angry I could turn green, rip my shirt, and go on a rampage as the Incredible Sulk.
MM: I don’t think you’d be alone in that… While we’re playing the “favorites” game, do you have a favorite song to play live?
Lee: I like them all.
Ant: I like “Resolving in E,” nice simple riff based C and Em with a shouty chorus that usually gets people up.
MM: What is your favorite thing about live shows?
Ant: For me it’s the end of the show. I have terrible stage fright. But it’s good to hear the audience applause on a job well done.
MM: I admire you greatly for getting up there in spite of stage fright. I could never!!! For fun, what would be your dream lineup – that includes Revolution Rabbit Deluxe?
Ant: XTC to start for their energy, especially early days. Pixies to continue the mood. Then us (how dare I) followed by U2 when they rocked stadiums. Closer, the almighty McCartney opening on “Jet” and closing on “Hey Jude” after an hour of classics.
MM: Ah yes. Mr. McCartney. Gotta include him. Legend.So last but not least, what are the band’s plans for 2024?
Ant: We are in the process of recording the sixth album, Seethe, which should be out at the end of the year. We are playing in South Wales regularly. We plan on updating our website soon to include our new drummer and bassist plus a video to accompany the new single due out in September. Thank you for this, I hope you have enjoyed the process as much as we did.
MM: Thank all of you for your time!
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Be sure to follow Revolution Rabbit Deluxe on all their socials so that you can keep up with band updates and hear that new single as soon as it drops! And go listen to Control Freaks on your favorite streaming service!
Switchfoot, Blue October, and Matt Nathanson have announced a co-headlining tour. Each night, the lineup order will change. The “Help From My Friends Summer Tour” kicks off July 24th in Charlotte, North Carolina. You can get tickets at switchfoot.com, blueoctober.com, and mattnathanson.com! Switchfoot and Blue October are also offering VIP meet-and-greets.
7/24 – Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
7/25 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
7/26 – Salem, VA – Salem Civic Center
7/27 – Bethlehem, PA – The Wind Creek Event Center
Love ’em or hate ’em, you can’t deny we’ve all been talking about Creed since they announced their reunion on the Summer of ’99 cruise. The band then shared dates for a 40-city North American tour, called – you guessed it – the “Summer of ’99 Tour.”
This summer run will feature Finger Eleven every night, as well as direct support from 3 Doors Down at the majority of the shows. Daughtry, Switchfoot, Tonic, and Big Wreck will be making appearances on select dates.
Creed and various others who saw their heyday in the late 90s and early 00s will also be performing at the “Summer of ’99 and Beyond” festival, right in the middle of this tour. This festival will take place August 31st in San Bernardino and will welcome such performers as 3 Doors Down, Daughtry, Finger Eleven, Fuel, Vertical Horizon, and The Verve Pipe.
You can grab tickets for the tour, festival, and Mark Tremonti’s guitar clinics at creed.com!
7/17 – Green Bay, WI – Resch Center&#
7/19 – Monticello, IA – Great Jones County Fair&#
7/20 – Walker, MN – Moondance Events&#
7/23 – Simpsonville, SC – CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park&#
7/24 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion+#
7/26 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live+#
7/27 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach+#
7/30 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage*#
7/31 – Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre+#
8/2 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center+#
8/3 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake+#
Styx and Foreigner have announced dates for the “Renegades & Juke Box Heroes” tour. The bands are co-headlining with support from John Waite. This is to be Foreigner’s farewell run, so grab those tickets at either styxworld.com or foreigneronline.com and get ready for a night of sing-along hits!
June
6/11 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
6/12 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center
6/14 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
6/15 – Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Center
6/18 – Old North St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, STL
Pop/punk princess Avril Lavigne is touring North America this spring and summer. With special guests All Time Low, Simple Plan, Royal and the Serpent, and/or girlfriends on select dates, Avril’s “Greatest Hits” tour will start in Vancouver, BC, and run through the U.S. before concluding in Edmonton, AB. Get your tickets at avrillavigne.com!
Note: The dates jump around because from mid-June to mid-July, Avril will be in Europe. See her official site for details on those shows.
5/22 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena*
5/25 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre*
5/26 – Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater*
5/28 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre*
5/30 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum*
6/1 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena*
6/2 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre*
8/14 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Center+
8/16 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage+
8/17 – Saint-jean-sur-richelieu, QC – International de montgolfières 2024^
8/20 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater+
8/21 – Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre+
8/23 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center+
8/24 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center+
8/27 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater+
8/29 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion+
8/31 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live+
9/1 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion+
9/3 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre+
9/4 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheatre+
9/6 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center+
9/7 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre+
9/9 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater+
9/10 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island+
Hailing from Wales, Revolution Rabbit Deluxe is a band with a sound that ranges from power pop and Brit rock to alternative/indie with strong punk overtones. This four-piece outfit has blended their many influences into a sound that brings the late 70s/early 80s punk rock and new wave movements firmly into the 2020s. (I was visited by heavy The Clash vibes.) This near seamless modern take on these genres is evident on the band’s latest album, Control Freaks.
Control Freaks was released on October 28, 2023. The record kicks off with the track “I’ve Got Nothing” and doesn’t relinquish its hold on the listener straight through to the finale. Within the twelve songs you will find everything from poppy, danceable bops, such as “Summer All Year Round,” to more socially aware (in true punk fashion) tracks like “Fabian Control Freaks,” which is extremely catchy and will have you singing along. Revolution Rabbit Deluxe even throws in a couple of slower, more heartfelt songs in “Mother and Child” and “The Girl From Irpin,” proving that this quartet can run the gamut of human emotion.
If you are a fan of old-school punk or alternative/indie rock, or if you simply want to lose yourself in something that is upbeat while making a statement, Control Freaks is a must-hear! The band’s promise that the album will “bring a smile to your face as we march headlong towards inevitable(?) oblivion” is more than delivered on.
Standout tracks: “Mother and Her Child,” “The Girl From Irpin,” “The Sweetest Things,” and “Glasgow Kiss”
Mostly Music 