So the news is True. Henry Rollins has picked up his pros again in the form of a L.A. Weekly music column. To add a element of professionalism he also has twitter account and a saturday night radio show on KCRW. Holy fucking shit. Yes it happened – he’s back and burning on all cylinders. In his first column he writes about outsider music – or some lonely hippies he remembers who would not join the party inside the house. He brings up Diamanda Galas as having turned him on to such music as if it were a page written yesterday right out of Get in the Van. Same familiar tone and don’t mess with me Hank I’m better than most of you because my shell is strong outside but inside I’m weeping because everyone else makes me ill. I think he may have invented narcissism as we all might have Rollins stories like mine. I remembered the time he was playing a free show with The Rollins Band in Princeton with Ween. My friend Jen wanted to go over to him while he was stretching and try and interview him on video before the show. I went and then he basically told her to fuck-off right on camera and get out of his face. Real typical couth. You could tell by his eyes that he meant it but she just kept laughing at him trying to break him down – sorta funny now that I think about it. In retrospect in his position I might had been the same way. He’s a professional performer you know. Here’s the whole documentary filmed by David Markey from the last Black Flag tour called “Reality 86’d”. Shot on super 8. Pretty gritty stuff.
Black And White MP3 by Henry Rollins. This was the lead track which appeared off the first LP post Black Flag. Police Story MP3 by Black Flag from Damaged Slip It In MP3 by Black Flag
Mala in Se is this metal punk noise outfit from Cincinnati, Ohio which could be art if you consider huge cannon like nailguns something you’d want to hang in a audio gallery. This is what the music sounds like. Have no fear for a trio they sound like 10 men battling to an epic death with their guitars on fire on Phratry Records. If you like the boredoms you surely will pick up on the strangeness of music that Mala in Se sculp. Not sure what the hell the band name means but they do their thing fast too with classic thrash style tweeps and twerp notes that will fuck with the sense of what you think your inner metal actually is. Decide for yourself but enter exposition at your own risk.
Other experimental sonic art metal stuff: Bo Go MP3 by Boredoms from Pop Tatari Lucky Star MP3 Tristan Psionic from TPA Flight 028. This a Canadian band Aviso’Hara played with once at The Bug Jar in Rochester, NY. They really made the show a lot of fun. Total energy which brought up our game. If you like the sonic youth you’ll love these guys. They were on Sonic Unyon.
Just the other morning I was thinking about the Double LP compilation Burning Ambitions: A History of Punk because I realized I left off the song “1,2, X U” from the Wire posting this week which seemed like an obvious track to gab about anyway being that even the likes of Dag Nasty had covered it. This 1984 comp is where I first heard of a lot of UK punk bands who seemed old or passe in my youth at the time like the Adverts, X Ray Spex, UK Subz, etc, etc but others who were on still thrill me today like the Fall, Swell Maps and The Stranglers. All were brilliant actually as they really had already made their impression on music history.Here’s the whole playlist. Then shortly there after sometime in the mid 80’s i got wind of the NJ/HC thrash/hardcore band scene with bands like Lethal Aggression, Dirge, Crucial Youth and a few others thanks to Hardcore Sundays at CBGB’s (whole bunch of stories there in the future). I had no clue who Social Decay were as I’m sure there are many all of which Devil Dick talks about on the Demo Tape blog in much greater detail than I’ll ever be able to. Bands like seem to just pop-out of the Jersey devil ridden woods back then and here they are again making new music!
A bunch of these bands will be playing a BYOB show at The Players Rock Lounge at Club XXXV, 7090 Rt 35 N, Sayreville being produced by DAA Entertainment. I can’t make this shit up. there is actually full on punk/thrash show going to happen at a nudie club with Mcrad w/ Chuck Treece, Social Decay, Lethal Aggression, Jumpship, The Vivid twisted, Fight Back and Casting ships. I’m sure most of the bands will be fronted by a bunch of old guys.
Ghos† Smile MP3 by Fight Back [Free Demo here] This is pretty good hardcore. Lots of variety. Worth checking out for the price. Kill-or-Die MP3 by Social Decay1985 demo Fiend MP3 by McRad from Absence of Sanity (1987)
The Young Leaves Life Underneath is all punk & shit
ALBUM REVIEW: Were happy to say we’ve been fans of The Young Leaves from Massachusetts since their first singles and happy to see them put a vinyl version with some of the tracks included on Life Underneath via Drunken Sailor Records. They wear their influences on their proverbial tattoo’d sleeves. It’s straight forward like Hüsker Dü, Dinosaur Jr., Jawbreaker were. The singer guitarist Christopher from the band will tell you that straight up. Their demands are simple and have four point win win situation. 1) get in the van 2) tour 3) Put out their records 4) Give them a floor to sleep on. In return they promise to rock and drink your beer. We think you should listen to these simple terms based solely on the fact they make good punk to get drunk with your buddies with. I bet if you put on Rancid along with The Leaves no one would be none the wiser. There may be less poser cali-punk and more heart in this trio’s distorted music than you might be able to handle but alas it won’t be the last time we led you someplace like the music you should expect in this dank basement.
Stuff we hear: Collide by Ff (aka fat Fuck) from We’re #1(1996) – Best NJ jawbreaker/mats sounding punk rock this side of the Hudson. When I listen to The Leaves I hear the heart of these guys just slaying it. Want MP3 by Jawbreaker from Unfun (1992)
ALBUM REVIEW:Le ButcherettesSin Sin Sin is some sabroso (delicious) rock via nuevo feminist and the multi talented Teri Gender Bender (Vocals/Keys/Guitar). Originated as a experimental duo with drummer Auryn Jolene in Guadalajara Mexico in 2007. They made it about the show complete with real pig head props (Which I thought you could only get away with that shit in Tijuana). When she slops the blood around her face like she got cut in a Rob Zombie movie in the seemingly anti-male video “I’m Queen” it quickly reminded me of the Australian singer from the Divinyls Christina Amphlett live performances (when they were punk) slopping lipstick all over her face. Le Butcherettes are a lot less pop and this breed of punk are not exactly touching themselves. The lyrics are equal part titillating as they are taunting. This is a female driven brain game though for sure. I know I’m going back but her look reminds of her voice (see Divinyls Roxy Music cover below) really too. This band is as edgy as they were in their early days. And luckily Teri has been empowered with more talent than Bikini Kill could ever had dreamed of with a nice share of literary references sprinkled about in the songs. One of my favorite songs on the record is “Dress Of” which is her just ranting and singing with just the drums wailing “take my dress off, take my fucking dress off- honey- honey o-o-o”. Who says songs need other instruments? Right after that one she adds a keyboard to the mix with the drums on “Empty Dimes” that has a Spoon thing going on with no guitar to be found.
This music is about the uncomplicated deep honest parts. Fuzzed out keyboard sounds and simple rock akin to Greg Dulli(The Afghan Whigs) but the female version with a sultry delivery of which maple trees will just pore out their sweet nectar if she happened to walk by. When she gets vicious from the ladies side of bar like on a track like “Bang!” You can’t help but think there is some Courtney Love angst of course (but not the fake crazy kind). But I think you need to look beyond the man killer because Teri is doing it from her soul and sure it’s dark like most young artists. If she were locked in some dismally lit room her soul would blow it up with her writing & playing and escape. What may seem like random episodes of passion orchestrated directly at you are in fact a fuck you to Judy Blume. Look what you did Teri like on “Henry Don’t Got Love” is great follow-up lead single to “I’m Queen” so fasten your pants. I can only imagine what the Henry video is going to be like!
Teresa Suaréz (Aka Teri Gender Bender) is US born to parent actors, moved to Mexico, started a band, had some differences with Jolene, moved permanently to LA and is now with her third drummer and a bass player. The coming long player via Rodriguez-Lopez Productions features all new songs since their debut EP Kiss & Kill (2008). All of the elements are in place for her success with some serious management in place most bands would kill to have behind them. It will be interesting to see how intensity builds-up. A whole load of shows are coming. With her in this round she has drummer Gabe Serbian and bassist Jonathan Hischke to help round out Le Butcherettes as a trio. Anyway, SIN SIN SIN is coming your way this May. Don’t say I didn’t warn you but in meantime if you get a chance check them out live and report in.
Get some: New York MP3 Short and sweet ode to golden whiskey and your hate. Ah the old grungy romantic nyc. Track 2 on SIN SIN SIN. Henry Don’t Got Love MP3 She gives a shout out to Henry Miller on this #1 hit from SIN SIN SIN. Kiss & Kill MP3 EP Title track
Sorta sounds like the naughty bits of: Love Is The Drug MP3 Roxy Music music cover by Divinyls 66 MP3 by The Afghan Whigs from 1965.
Hey if you like your punk rock oldschool with out the gutter dirt-bag element and plenty of cussing you should check out T.V. Tramps. Lots of avengers-Bags-stiv bators, Deadboys, etc like attitude. Singer Joy Vay, Baby Zee Matt “The Gooz”- on drums, Brian Sugent(The Blisters) on old-old guitars and Claude Coleman, Jr. the “ace of bass” all bring it and own to wear. This is brand new classic punk. Get your mo-hawk dyed and your leather dry cleaned. Enjoy them on Facebook.
T.V. Tramp shows: 9/14/10 8:30PM La Poisson Rouge NY 10/1/10 9:00PM The Brighton Bar, Long Branch NJ
Seven Inch Friday: This little punk rock story is probably one of my favorites although I probably won’t do it justice; it’s funny none the less. It’s the story of how the whole New Brunswick NJ scene got a Buzzov•en t-shirt but first about the music… This here 7″ has three grunge pot smoking epics that came out in 1992 sometime out on the Santa Rosa CA label Kirbdog Records. The band originated out of North Carolina and was led by Kirk Fisher. He was the guy behind the violence. The instigator of sludge metal. Fans of the melvins/eyehategod know exactly who these guys are. They always used horror film samples in-between songs, real smoke and the slower the rock distortion groove the better. After lots of touring and small releases they made it to Roadrunner records and were later promptly dropped. I had the opportunity to see them several times and witnessed first hand their asinine antics of lighting fireworks and kirk pulling a gg allin drawing blood on himself or throwing bottles of bud across the room; then giggling about it like little girls when the victim could not figure out who it was. I thought it was obvious. One time at the Brighton (photo below) Kirk got upset because Sebastian Bach was asked to leave so he wouldn’t get beat up. Sounds funny but apparently he had the good pot. Kirk had his priorities.
The most notable of nights happened when they decided to get in a fight with Buzzkill (NOt the uk band) after playing The Melody in New Brunswick. Now Buzzkill (formerly Butthead ) with just Dan and Bruce are 12 1/2 feet tall combined. The smelly pot smoking hippies did not stand a chance. For all their stupidity and getting pummeled they decided after being kicked-out of the party by force to take their vengeance on one of the party goers cars. In the end Kirk ended up in a orange suite for a few days in the New Brunswick lock-up and they left behind a whole box of T-shirts. Anyway, be sure to update your calender Sat Dec 26th 2009 as Buzzkill are playing The Court Tavern for a reunion show along with Prosolar Mechanics and The Stuntcocks. Bring back the 90’s man. Bonus: Mp3 “Rock and Roll Gas Station” from the album UP on A/T Mp3 “This place sucks” Tooth & Sole Mp3 “Dirge” from the debut I feel like myself again
Andy Diamond presents a rockn’roll seminar at the Court Tavern this coming Saturday, April 25th, 2009 featuring sets by The Stuntcocks, Eastern Anchors, Harlot and from Baltimore LandSpeedRecord![ View FB Event invitation ] Now in order to take advantage of this special offer you don’t much preparation to do except get there early by 10PM EST to enjoy everything the bands and court have to offer. You don’t even have to bring your friends. You will make friends but it would be nice if you brought your chick and some money to drink with. Sample some mp3s by the bands: “Punk Rock Guy” by The Stuntcocks “Release the Dogs” by Eastern Anchors Listen to more on last.fm “Dead girlfriend” by LandSpeedRecord!
Dear young performers, Psychobilly, reverb and The Bigsby would not exist the way we know today if it were not for Lux Interior and Poison Ivy of The Cramps. Shit I might not know how cool the 50’s really were unless I never heard Bad Music for Bad People way back when. The songs were simple, easy to play but the crazy slow feel catapulted you into this alien world of weird science, hot rods mixed with Bohemian beer (very disgusting by the way). Lux was a avid record collector and covered some jems and was covered almost as much as Elvis. Ok maybe that is stretching it a bit but not far-off. He was up there as far as rock icons go and on the same level as Strummer, Joey Ramone and Iggy Pop (still kicking). Leaders of the underground like it or not. This music is the devil’s music to some and drunken bliss for others. These are the people who die, die.
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