John Reis Vs. Rick Froberg

John Reis Vs. Rick Froberg


John Reis and Rick Froberg still make music that sounds like Rocket from the Crypt,
Drive Like Jehu and or the Hot Snakes. You can put them on different coasts but the proof is in the surf and genetic make-up of their output these San Diego punks. Even after Hot Snake’s demise they both somehow influence each other and carry on the flame with honor and make some dawg gone original music. To claim they are not influential to a whole generation of indie rockers and rabid alternative rock music fans would be as criminal as saying Van Halen was not influential to heavy hair metal or green day was to pop-punk bands(lame metaphors I know). What I dare (if you are a nerd you probably did this months ago) you to do is to put them all in a mix and hit shuffle. I haven’t tried to count them but easily there is a whole coffin of songs that all could be from the same box-set from their high-school band Pitchfork to their new projects. Obits and The Night Marchers respectfully all sound the same just a different era in their creativity. In this case splitsville. Like the inner fugazi argument, I couldn’t tell ya off the cuff what is a Ian Mccaye song and which is a Guy P song. Sure I can guess who is singing but its the sort of team make-up compliment each other for the sake of the music they make and players that jam with them. What’s cool to hear and understand in the research how influential SST was to these guys. Funny band rebuttal from Obits to a mp3 blogger here on 17dots.

Sample some San Diego bread rock:
Rana by Pitchfork from Eucalyptus / Saturn Outhouse
Chariots on Fine By Rocket From The Crypt from All Systems Go 3
Golden Brown by Drive like Jehu from Yank Crime
Hi-Lites by Hot Snakes from Thunder Down Under
Widow Of My Dreams by Obits(Rick Froberg) from I Blame You
Bad Bloods by The Night Marchers (John Reis) from See you in Magic

Can you dig it man? I realize I’m leaving out some other side projects and crap so don’t get your panties in a bunch. If this is stuff is new to you and you dig the sounds of what a rock band is supposed to sounds like cool. Go buy some of their shit. Subscribe to the DJ Spork podcast where we bring stuff like this to your ear holes.

Hot Snakes Thunder Down Under

Hot Snakes Thunder Down Under


I don’t know where his record was hiding from me in 2006. I’ve heard stories but for the un-initiated Thunder Down Under is a great Hot Snakes starter kit; temporary proof that the golden age of ‘indie roc’ died with their break-up. It’s guitar tightness and ear bleeding volume speaks to the fact that their live performance puts the fear in cancer. They shook the ground from 1999-2005 or so, and it easily can be said that this music is not safe for folkies, disco fans or the notion of tough guy rock. The first spin will hurt your sensibility of many things, this is pure rock control put out by Swami Records. The rock energy and speed of the Supersucker’s La Mano Cornuda can be compared as the evidence I submit to you (you have your homework), Thunder Down Under is on the same level demon seed level. They crush all the strokey, bloc party want to be’s on go. Where have all the loud, tight and fast bands gone?