Boston ska/punk rockers Have Nots are excited to announce their sophomore album Proud will be released on May 3rd via Paper + Plastick Records. Touted as one of Alternative Press’100 Bands You Need To Know in 2011, AbsolutePunk is offering eager fans a taste of the new album with a free MP3 download of the song “Louisville Slugger”. The band is currently energizing crowds on the West Coast supporting Street Dogs, and will be announcing more tour dates shortly (tour dates below).

Proud is a punk record with hints of ska that would fit snuggly in a collection between Operation Ivy’s Energy and The Clash’s self-titled album. “At the core, we’re sticking to our loud, fast, danceable ska influenced punk rock, but we’re also letting other influences shine through a little more,” comments Have Nots drummer Steve Patton. “Reggae, country, hardcore, pop punk, rock n roll, all of that. It’s like if Cocksparrer, Peter Tosh, Teenage Bottle Rocket, Social Distortion, Kid Dynamite, The Clash, Billy Bragg and Paul Simon had a ska baby.”

“Jon wrote the song ‘Proud’ about his dad who passed away fifteen years ago,” reveals Patton. “It’s about growing up, and being who you want to be, and the roads you take to get you where you are. When we were trying to decide on a name for the record we tossed around a couple of different ideas, but ultimately decided that, since we were proud of this record, and of the work that we’ve done as a band to get us where we are today, Proud would be a fitting title.”

Recorded in Nashville, TN with producer Matt Drastic (Blacklist Royals, The Dopamines), and mixed by Stephen Egerton (Descendents/ALL), Have Nots recorded Proud at Drastic Sound in the late summer of 2010. The band spent the year touring with Dropkick Murphys, Street Dogs, and Swingin’ Utters, to name a few, as well as a set at Chicago’s Riot Fest and their first European tour. Proud is the band’s follow up to their well-received debut, Serf City USA. Have Nots are Matt Pruitt (vocals/guitar), Jon Cauztik (vocals/guitar), Jameson Hollis (bass), and Steve Patton (drums).

Get the free download of ‘Louisville Slugger’ from Proud at http://tinyurl.com/louisville-slugger.