Our new LP Fake Meets Failure and the single Pariah are now available for purchase off our website. To find these records and more go to the STORE page on our site. Below is a recent review of Fake Meets Failure. To read more reviews go to the REVIEWS page.

“FAKE MEETS FAILURE” reviewed by Zac of Caught in the Crossfire.

Portland’s Red Dons are back with another prime slab of punk rock following up their unbelievable debut ‘Death To Idealism‘ that was released back in 2007 to rapturous applause in the underground scene and on this very website. Most second albums go through the mill somewhat but with the band’s history including members forming The Observers, Clorox Girls and more this was always going to be a release to wait for and the result is nothing other than pure brilliance.

From the off, Fake Meets Failure revs up its engines and delivers riffs to die for and sheer punk rock excellence. Land of Reason chugs straight into where Death To Idealism left us with blood and dirt, exploding bombs and very much in the hands of killers as vocalist Douglas Burns slams his political stances across his songs. The beauty of his offerings are not only edgy but melodic too as each song of the ten on offer here just cut into your ears and make you want to grab the lyric sheet just like your favourite punk and h/c records of old. 3rd track ‘Pariah‘ must have done the same thing for them as the band get mighty close to borrowing a few screaming riff solos from the likes of The Adolescents but knowing that this bands roots come from this world and they have taken it to a new level I guess they are allowed to fully get away with it. This only adds to the wonderful nostalgia of this record, it’s not often that bands in the naughties can replicate the quality songwriting of our leading punk rock predecessors but when it comes with bands such as Regulations and Career Suicide as another 2 examples of bands who touch that nerve it’s absolutely brilliant and people need to know they still exist.

One of the main stand outs on this record for me is ‘Pieces’. 5 tracks into the album and the hail of ‘Armageddon!’ starts one of the best punk rock songs ever written covering rejection, dejection, brutal truth and oppression all summed up in 3 minutes and 6 seconds. Another track on repeat in my car from this album is ‘Enemy Ears’ that kind of takes the very best of The Briefs and mashes it up with the force of Dead Kennedys for flavour but obviously written in Red Dons’ uniquely melodic and chuggy way.

Overall if you love hardcore and punk from the good old days, read Flipside and Maximum Rock and Roll for years and have been to see every touring band like us you are going to be stoked when you realize that those incredible records are still being made to this day. Make sure you don’t download it for free off some shit blog on the internet, go and support this band and buy a CD or a slab of their amazing vinyl that someone has made for you right now, you will not be disappointed. -Zac

Thanks to everyone who helped us out this last month during our U.S. tour. We really appreciate your support and enthusiasm. The shows were amazing, the bands ruled, and everyone made sure we had a great time in their respective cities. A special thanks to Hajji from the rest of the band is also in order. Not only did he earn MVP honors in Texas for not loosing any of our beers while inner-tubing through rapids, but he also toughed it out in a major way by playing the last three weeks of tour despite suffering from a separated shoulder. The biggest thanks of course then goes to those of you who provided extra beers and pain killers for Hajji while we were on the road. Without you we would have had to cancel dates. Mr. Quint & Mr. Foote, you were especially helpful. No thanks to the sound guy in Raleigh who made us play on the stage that Hajji had a difficult time staying on. In the future, trust us sound people, we know our own weaknesses. Once again we apologies to everyone in Raleigh for the short set. We’ll try to make it up with a free show as soon as possible.

Last night in our bassist Hajji Husayn suffered a shoulder separation during our set in Raleigh. Despite the extreme pain, Hajji is determined to play tonight in Richmond. We hope to see everyone there, but please don’t think less of him if he has to sit down. We are from Portland after all, if Pig Champion could get away with it maybe we should be given some slack too. Our deepest apologies to Raleigh for our short set. We’ll make the date up as soon as possible. Thanks to Seth, Corey, & Mike for helping us out at the Hospital last night.

Tonight’s show in Houston has been moved from the MInk to Mangos on 403 Westheimer Rd.

7/08 – Milwaukee @ Ground Zero
7/09 – Chicago @ Ronny’s
7/10 – Kansas City @ Studded Bird
7/11 – St. Louis @ Atomic Cowboy
7/12 – Carbondale (Afternoon Show) @ Plaza Records
7/12 – Memphis @ The Hitone
7/13 – Denton @ Rubber Gloves
7/14 – Ft. Worth @ 1919 Hemphill
7/15 – San Antonio @ The Pedicab
7/16 – Austin @ Beerland
7/17 – Houston @ Mangos
7/18 – New Orleans @ Saturn Bar
7/19 – Gainesville @ Wayward Council
7/20 – Chattanooga @ Discotec
7/21 – Raleigh @ Berkley Cafe
7/22 – Richmond @ Gallery 5
7/23 – Washington D.C. @ St. Stephens Church
7/24 – Baltimore (Afternoon show) @ Charm City
7/24 – Philadelphia @ JR’s
7/25 – New York City @ Death By Audio 49
7/26 – Providence @ 201
7/27 – Boston @ Gay Gardens
7/28 – Albany @ Valentines
7/29 – Montreal @ L’X
7/30 – Ottawa @ Babylon
7/31 – Toronto @ Parts & Labour
8/1 – Buffalo @ Sugar City
8/2 – Pittsburgh @ Helter Shelter
8/6 – Elgin @ The Gasthaus
8/7 – Chicago @ TBA

Our new album Fake Meets Failure is available on Deranged Records in North America and Taken By Surprise Records in Europe. You can order the LP off of both labels’ websites or get it from us at one of our shows this summer. Soon you will also be able to download the album off our website. Check out our SHOWS page to find out when and where we will be playing this summer.

We have released a new 7″ on Deranged Records. It features two new songs entitled “Pariah” and “It’s Your Right”. Derek Willman (Hellshock, From Ashes Rise, & The Estranged) plays bass on “It’s Your Right”. You can order the record off the Deranged Records website, or pick up a copy from us personally at one or our shows this summer. Here are the tour dates. We hope to see you at one of these shows.

7/08 – Milwaukee @ Ground Zero
7/09 – Chicago @ Ronny’s
7/10 – Kansas City @ Studded Bird
7/11 – St. Louis @ Atomic Cowboy
7/12 – Carbondale (Afternoon Show) @ Plaza Records
7/12 – Memphis @ The Hitone
7/13 – Denton @ Rubber Gloves
7/14 – Ft. Worth @ 1919 Hemphill
7/15 – San Antonio @ The Pedicab
7/16 – Austin @ Beerland
7/17 – Houston @ Mangos
7/18 – New Orleans @ Saturn Bar
7/19 – Gainesville @ Wayward Council
7/20 – Chattanooga @ TBA
7/21 – Raleigh @ Berkley Cafe
7/22 – Richmond @ Gallery 5
7/23 – Washington D.C. @ St. Stephens Church
7/24 – Baltimore (Afternoon show) @ Charm City
7/24 – Philadelphia @ JR’s
7/25 – New York City @ Death By Audio 49
7/26 – Providence @ 201
7/27 – Boston @ Gay Gardens
7/28 – Albany @ Valentines
7/29 – Montreal @ L’X
7/30 – Ottawa @ Babylon
7/31 – Toronto @ Parts & Labour
8/1 – Buffalo @ Sugar City
8/2 – Pittsburgh @ Helter Shelter
8/6 – Elgin @ The Gasthaus
8/7 – Chicago @ TBA

The Red Dons are playing a show this Saturday at Blackwater Records (20th & SE Morrison) in Portland, Oregon. The show is all ages and starts around 4pm. There is plenty of time to watch our set and still be on time for the Epoxies, Fliptops, & Chemicals show later that night at Dantes. We hope to see you Saturday!

Here are the dates of our upcoming tour. If you can help out with any of these dates, please lets us know. Write us at observerspdx@hotmail.com We hope to see you this summer.

7/08 – Milwaukee
7/09 – Chicago
7/10 – Kansas City
7/11 – St. Louis
7/12 – Memphis
7/13 – Denton
7/14 – Ft. Worth
7/15 – San Antonio
7/16 – Austin
7/17 – Houston
7/18 – New Orleans
7/19 – Gainesville
7/20 – Atlanta
7/21 – Durham
7/22 – Richmond
7/23 – Washington D.C.
7.24 – Baltimore
7/24 – Philadelphia
7/25 – NYC
7/26 – Providence
7/27 – Boston
7/28 – Albany
7/29 – Montreal
7/30 – Ottawa
7/31 – Toronto
8/1 – Buffalo
8/2 – Pittsburgh
8/3 – Detroit
8/6 – Chicago
8/7 – Chicago

Will Kinser from Born/Dead has joined the Red Dons. Thought it would be funny to use this picture. This summer we will touring in the U.S. and Canada. Dates will be posted soon.

Paintings by Douglas Burns will be featured in two exhibitions at the Contemporary Art Space of Chicago in February and March. Also in March, Burns will have work featured at the 1366 Space Gallery, and the Print Exchange in Chicago. For updates and details check out www.douglasburnsart.com .

Be sure to get one of Jesse Michaels‘ limited edition prints before they are sold out. Click HERE to find out more. Don’t forget to also check out his new band Classics of Love.