Legendary melodic punk rockers Strike Anywhere are set to announce a live acoustic collection CD/LP/Digital formats, titled In Defiance of Empty Times, that is set to be released on August 14th from Bridge Nine Records. Two sets were recorded last year, in Rochester last July and Richmond last September, and merged together for this very special release. "Side Rochester" features six songs captured from Strike Anywhere's acoustic performance alongside labelmates Polar Bear Club, while "Side Richmond" was recorded during a benefit show for the IWW on the eve of the Occupy Movement in RVA.

Strike Anywhere vocalist Thomas Barnett commented, " Side A ( Rochester ) is almost like a Peel session to me, an old BBC Radio one recording, or a very heartfelt but musical journey into the melodies and textures inside the songs. There is urgency and melancholy and a clarity of purpose bubbling up out of those acoustic performances that can sometimes get lost or sidelined in the headlong rush of a hardcore show. We'd been doing one-off acoustic shows for years, to benefit causes we support, and just to play our music in a different, and maybe less commodified context. But last Summer, we found ourselves really working out new arrangements and discovering new details in the songs as we prepared for these two events." He continued, "Side B, recorded on the eve of the Occupy Movement, shows a rowdy, loud yet intimate snapshot of our hometown at its passionate best. The quiet surprise that's in our voice is on record, as the songs translated beyond our expectation and simple hopes of transcending genre and seeing what happens without the noise and sweat of a punk show. We find out of course, that the noise and sweat follow, even without amps and pedals! The back end of the record builds into a party atmosphere that shows the songs inhabiting the room beyond us, transforming, then coming back louder and bigger . This is the riot folk for rioting folks. "

Strike Anywhere last released their landmark album Iron Front on Bridge Nine in October of 2009 which was called "the band's best output to date" by Punknews.org. Since then, the band has toured the globe numerous times over and are currently gearing up for a tour to Australia alongside Anti-Flag and The Flatliners. Spanning from May 24th through June 2nd, Strike Anywhere will be playing songs off of their entire catalog along the tour routing which can be found below.

IN DEFIANCE OF EMPTY TIMES TRACK LIST:
SIDE ROCHESTER
We Amplify/Blaze
Infared
Hollywood Cemetery
I'm Your Opposite Number
Chorus of One
Postcards from Home

SIDE RICHMOND
Timebomb Generation
Orphan Age
Prisoner Echoes
Extinguish
Sunset on 32nd


Strike Anywhere Australia Tour 2012
with: Anti-Flag & The Flatliners

5/24- Perth, Australia @ Capitol
5/25- Adelaide, Australia @ Fowlers
5/26- Melbourne, Australia @ Northcote Social Club (Strike Anywhere
headline show!.. just announced!)
5/27- Melbourne, Australia @ Hi-Fi Bar
5/30- Brisbane, Australia @ The Zoo
5/31- Gold Coast, Australia @ Coolangatta Hotel
6/1- Sydney, Australia @ Manning Bar
6/2- Wollongong, Australia @ Uni Bar