It's been news for a couple of weeks now, but since I'm about to bring up the band Lifetime, I can't mention them without first noting that the once-defunct-but-now-reunited melodic hardcore band have signed to Fueled By Ramen/Decaydance. This news made me wanna vomit in my mouth a little bit. See, Decaydance is Pete Wentz's label. Pete Wentz is in Fall Out Boy. Fall Out Boy are an awful hex on music. Ugh. Oh, well. I was never planning on loving Lifetime for who they could be, but rather who they were. And I don't care if that sounds cynical.

Anyway, I bring it up because after Lifetime's (apparently temporary) demise, guitarist Dan Yemin not only went on to form Kid Dynamite, he also started up Paint It Black circa 2000 with David Wagenschutz (who drums in Good Riddance and was a founding member of Lifetime). Also in the band at the time was Dave Hause, who's no longer in PIB, but is currently in the Loved Ones with Michael Cotterman who was also in Kid Dynamite. And to bring it full circle, the Loved Ones opened for Lifetime during their short stint of West Coast shows back in January. I went to the San Francisco appearance and it was amazing. So was the saltwater taffy. Anyways, why all the random info? Because Paint It Black (which still features Yemin) and the Loved Ones are coming to the Paradox on Saturday, April 22.

Paint It Black play typical poppy anthemic hardcore, but their music is a lot of fun to sing along to. Everyone will surely have fists in the air while shouting, "Here's to the skinned knees and sutured hearts! Here's to the unhappy endings and all the false starts!" (A line from "Memorial Day" off the new record, Paradise). The Loved Ones also create a familiar sound, but they deliver their melodic punk rock with a lot of energy and influence from classic outfits like Social Distortion and the Clash. A lot of noise comes from the Philly trio, and you can get a preview by picking up a copy of their new record, Keep Your Heart, on Fat Wreck Chords.

Also on Saturday night, Redmond's Old Fire House has a special show for all you smarties. It's been years since I've walked the halls of a high school, but if you're a student with a 3.0 or higher GPA, and you have a report card to prove it, you can go see Schoolyard Heroes, Speaker Speaker, and Racetrack for free! Just bring a copy of your grades and flash it at the door. Don't worry; if your marks are a little low this year you can still get in on the action—you just have to pay $6. Or... maybe you should stay home and study.