It's been a while, but here's a new post talking about some shows i've been to over the past few months. I've been to a bunch of shows, so i'll have to make each review brief.
LUCERO w/ Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
@the Biltmore
May 23
The real surprise of the night was openers Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears from Austin, Texas. They had a nice soul revue thing going with forays into old school funk and some straight up rock. Included in the set were a handful of songs about the female butt, such as "Big Booty Woman". My favorite song was "Bitch I Love You". Funny shit. The band was so much fun, you just couldn't stop yourself from dancing.
It seems like most times i see Lucero they open with "That Much Further West" and then let the floodgates of audience song requests open up. This usually leads to breaks in between songs, and a general looseness on stage. Tonight was unlike any other set; the band opened with "Bike Riders" and actually seemed to have a setlist slightly mapped out. This resulted in the band sounding tighter, and dare i say, more professional than ever before. Songs flowed from one into the next, Ben wasn't explaining that he couldn't play a song due to drunkeness. The band sounded together, and with the addition of pedal steel and keyboard players, old songs sounded new & fresh. And opening with a rager like "Bike Riders", well goddamn! Lucero did play a few requests, including the one i asked Ben Nichols to play just before he hopped on stage. The set included all the hits, Slow Dance, Nights Like These, Tears Don't Matter Much, The War, etc. But the band also played a few new ones, that got me excited for their upcoming record. Only bad part of the show was when this douche bag poured a full can of beer on my head. What a piece of shit.
CRO-MAGS w/ Outbreak, Cruel Hand
@ Studio 7 (seattle)
June 6th
After a fun day walking around Seattle, me, Steveston Mike and hunter headed over to the venue, way too early. So we headed over to the Krispy Kreme where we witnessed the creation of glazed donuts. Amazing! Back to Studio 7 we found out the Mongoloids had broken down and wouldn't be playing. I didn't care. Cruel Hand opened and were better than i expected. Basic modern hardcore i guess, tons of energy on stage. Outbreak played next. I used to love this band, but now.... whatever. They bored me.
As the Cro-Mags started to set up you could see the anticipation on everyones face, and you could also see just how diverse the crowd was; anti-racist skins, metal heads, hardcore kids, mohawked punx, etc. For the life of me i can't remember what song they opened with, but i just remember tons of people attempting stage dives. Thru out the whole set there was always a few people skanking across the stage before doing a dive. As to be expected there was some punches thrown, and some brawls did break out. At one point i saw some kid crawling on his hands & knees out the front door after some sort of skirmish happened in the pit.
The Cro-Mags sounded great, John Joesph still sounds good and still moves around alot. The band seemed a bit bummed about all the fights breaking out, at one point asking "why do you have to do this at our show?". But of course the fights kept breaking out thru out the set. The set listed consisted of songs from "Age of Quarrel", some Bad Brains covers, and "12xu" by Wire. Solid.
The Estranged w/Mode Moderne, Yellow Knife, Spectres
@Pats Pub
June 19
The Estranged from Portland were much better live than their records, even though I like most of their records. Their full length on Dirtnap wasn't recorded that well, and i felt like it hurt the songs. And hearing those songs live proved my point. The Estranged were a powerful 3-piece, reminding me of Husker Du at some points. And i was quite surprised at how good the guitar player/singer is, that dude can really shred.
Opening the show was 3 locals; Mode Moderne are obviously influenced by the Smiths and Joy Division, i'd like to see them again. Yellow Knife were heavy, post hardcore with some metal leanings. Spectres do the peace punk influenced by Joy Division thing fairly well. I think if they got a different singer they'd be a stronger band.
Leeroy Stagger
@ the Railway
May 29th
Kevin Kane was one of the openers, which makes sense since he also plays with Leeroy Stagger, and he played an abbreviated set due to his frustration with all the people talking while he played his quiet, mellow songs. The worst offenders were these women sitting at a table right up front, maybe 5 feet from Kevin. They had no idea that they were ruining the show for everyone. He ended his set with a couple songs from his old band "The Grapes of Wrath".
Leeroy Stagger returns to the Railway!! I was excited for this show for weeks leading up. The set was heavy on material from his latest album, which i didn't get to hear until after the show, but this didn't matter. Leeroy Stagger is a great singer-songwriter, and his new songs sounded fantastic, akin to someone like Tom Petty mixed with Steve Earle and a less artsy Wilco. Yeah it's that good! I was happy to hear some songs from "Depression River" sprinkled in the set list as well.
I really hope things work out for Leeroy Stagger, he's got the chops and can write a good song, plus he tours non-stop. He's deserving of some success.
Slayer w/ Megadeth
@ GM Place
June 24
Thrash fuckin' metal!! The first 2 bands don't deserve to be mentioned in such a fine blog as this one. On this stop of the Canadian Carnage tour Slayer opened, and Megadeth headlined. Didn't really matter as both bands played 1hour sets, guess it comes down to ego.
Slayer opened with God Hates Us All... what a brutal angry song. But sadly parts of it were lost in the mix, but they got all that cleared up within the first couple songs. These guys haven't slowed down or mellowed out over the years, still brtual, still fast, still angry, and still LOUD! There was 38 amps on stage. That's just crazy. Slayer playing a 1 hour set means they can't fuck around when it comes to the set list, this meant you got to hear the "hits" and there was minimal between song banter. Awesome.
Megadeth played last. Can't remember what they opened with, maybe i was too mesmerized by Dave Mustaine's golden flowing locks that resemble a lions mane. But that first song went straight into "Wake Up Dead".. fuck yes!! My fist was in the air, i was headbanging like i still had long hair, i was singing along... good times. I was happy to hear "In My Darkest Hour",that song is amazing, good heavy riff thru out, some good depressing/morose lyrics. It was amazing to see the whole stadium singing along to "Peace Sells, But Who's Buying?". I know it's a thrash classic, but man people were losing their shit, singing at the top of their lungs and banging their heads.
As good as the bands were this night, the true entertainment was the crowd. Slayer and Megadeth bring out people from all walks of life; patched bikers, dirtbag metal heads, crust punx, middle aged balding men, bevis & butthead, skanks & prudes... you get the picture. They all came to do 3 things; head bang, smoke weed and drink beer. The air was thick with smoke thru out the whole night, and no security guard was going to stop anyone. People would be smoking a joint and a guard would shine the flashlight on them to stop but they would just stare into the light while inhaling their dope. In between bands people stood in the aisles, smoking anything and everything, not even trying to hide it!! I'm pretty sure i got a contact high as my thoughts near the end of Megadeth's set were focused on getting an Iced Tea and a bag of potato chips, no flavor just salt (and for the record they tasted amazing when i rushed to 7-11 after the set). Oh and the 1 beer per person per transaction bullshit they had going on didn't stop everyone from drinking their faces off. These fans came to party, and nothing was going to stop them.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
No Sense Productions presents....
I'm very excited to announce that No Sense Productions is back after taking a few months off and we've got a HUGE show to announce......
108/Pulling Teeth/Lewd Acts/Skin Like Iron/Grave Maker
April 21st @ the Chapel Arts - 304 Dunlevy Ave (Vancouver, bc, Canada)
All Ages -- doors 7 / Bands 7:30 -- $13
I've been listening to 108 for a long, long time but have never seen them play. About 2 years ago i flew to San Francisco to see them play with Look Back & Laugh, Rise and Fall, and Iron Age. After I bought a plane ticket 108 dropped off the show. It was still an amazing show, and I'm always looking for any excuse to go to SF. Ever since than i've tried to find a way for the band to play here, and now they are! And with a stellar crop of bands on tour with them, and with Grave Maker as the special guests for Vancouver.... should be quite the night!
More info can be found at No Sense Productions. We've also got links and music up for the bands on the page. Oh, and there's a facebook event page, check it out and RSVP (or something like that).
And a big thank you to erin legere for putting together such a great looking poster, and for printing them off for us on such shiny paper.
108/Pulling Teeth/Lewd Acts/Skin Like Iron/Grave Maker
April 21st @ the Chapel Arts - 304 Dunlevy Ave (Vancouver, bc, Canada)
All Ages -- doors 7 / Bands 7:30 -- $13
I've been listening to 108 for a long, long time but have never seen them play. About 2 years ago i flew to San Francisco to see them play with Look Back & Laugh, Rise and Fall, and Iron Age. After I bought a plane ticket 108 dropped off the show. It was still an amazing show, and I'm always looking for any excuse to go to SF. Ever since than i've tried to find a way for the band to play here, and now they are! And with a stellar crop of bands on tour with them, and with Grave Maker as the special guests for Vancouver.... should be quite the night!
More info can be found at No Sense Productions. We've also got links and music up for the bands on the page. Oh, and there's a facebook event page, check it out and RSVP (or something like that).
And a big thank you to erin legere for putting together such a great looking poster, and for printing them off for us on such shiny paper.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Influential Records & Bands
Over the past month alot of people have been posting lists of "Influential Records" on facebook. As a music nerd I love reading these lists, and I of course love making lists like this. It's taken me a week to do this, and i couldn't stop at 15, or even 20. I think i'm at 21 now, and i'm forcing myself to stop. And yes i did put this same list up on Facebook. I'd love to see your lists, you can either post in the comments section or email me at xcitrus@hotmail.com
In no particular order...
KISS -- Alive 2
The reality is it wasn't just this 1 LP that affected me, it was all the records (even post make-up era up to Animalize). This record really stands out for me from an early age, the artwork, the members make up & costumes, Gene Simmons with fake blood all over his face, instantly jumped out at me. The songs were great and the pyro explosions really came thru the speakers. My love affair with music started here.
Bruce Springsteen --
Hard to choose 1 record. I guess Born In the USA would be the first one to hit my ears, I remember hearing him on the radio and seeing the videos on Much Music when this came out. Shortly after i picked up his older tapes and played the hell out of them. Over the years "Born To Run" and "The River" have been in constant rotation and i'm always finding new reasons to love the boss.
Crimpshrine -
The 3 singles, "Quit Talking Claude", "Sleep What's That?" and the split that came with No Idea, really affected me in those early years of discovering punk rock. It all seemed so simplistic, like me and my friends could be doing this. And the lyrics.... as naive as they seem now, at 16 they made me look at things differently. Read the lyrics to "Fucked Up Kid". I thought it was written for me and about me.
the Specials - Self Titled LP
I first saw the video for "Message to You Rudy" and was intrigued by the sounds, the look and the attitude. I borrowed a copy from the public library and played the shit out of it. It seemed so different than anything i had heard before! A few days later i bought a copy from Sound Connection, put it on a tape and listened to it on my walkman all the time. At 16 this music seemed connected to punk somehow but it also seemed like something someone my age shouldn't be listening, like it was a secret music that older punks listened to.
Stiff Little Fingers - "Inflammable Materials"
Discovering this record at a young age really solidified my belief in punk rock as something different, and as a musical form that was explosive and exciting. The lyrics had something to say and were spat out with such urgency that it forced your ears to perk up.
Operation Ivy - "Energy"
Shortly after discovering the Specials and Stiff Little Fingers i was introduced to Operation Ivy by my friend Rusty. This California band combined both of those groups, and at the time there wasn't many groups doing rough, punk influenced ska. Sadly ska-punk was concept that i never wanted to hear again as the 90's progressed.
7 Seconds - "The Crew"
The first time heard this record i was riding thru the streets of Edmonton in the box part of a pick up truck, riding to a band practice with my friends. It was raw, fast, and had great sing-alongs. And those were all things my 15 year old ears wanted to hear. I borrowed the record from my friend Cam, and a few days later skipped school hitting Sound Connection to buy a copy. I celebrate this bands whole catalog, and yes i do enjoy "New Wind" alot.
SNFU - I'm from Edmonton so of course this band played a big part in my musical evolution. I skipped school alot, and would just wander around town; whyte Ave, the high level bridge, Jasper Ave, etc. And along these walks i'd see posters on walls and telephone poles, and they'd have crazy drawings and band names that i'd never heard before. One name that kept popping up was SNFU. I also saw there name once or twice in the mainstream newspapers. So i stole a tape of "Better Than A Stick In the Eye" from HMV downtown, and once i hit the street i put it in my walkmen. My ears were blasted with "Time To Buy A Futon"; a great guitar riff and Chi Pig screaming his head off. Holy shit! This is so different than the metal/hard rock i listened to! I spent the afternoon walking around listening to the tape over and over and over again. This crazy style of music was what i had been searching for. The other reason SNFU influenceed me was that the people playing the songs were real, unlike the metal bands i would hang around the stadium parking lot trying to me i would see these guys on the street and when their set was done they wouldn't run away to a dressing room that was off limits, they would just hang out in the crowd.
The Replacements -- "Tim"
One of my all time favorite records, and also a record that was a soundtrack for a strange time of my life so it can bring on some weird feelings and emotions. Me and my old roomate Dave K. would stay up for days on end listening to this record over & over again, rocking out to "One Dose of Thunder" at the start of the bender and burning out to "Here Comes A Regular" when all our supplies ran out and the sun was coming thru the curtains. This record is Paul Westerberg at his finest.
Modern Life is War -- "My Love, My Way"
There's a feeling you get when you first discover music, those early years of buying records can be so exciting what with all the fresh new sounds burrowing into your ears. As time goes on you get a little pickier, maybe you you don't get impressed as easily, and you will go thru periods of time where nothing excites you anymore, and you're searching for that one band and record that will change you and affect your life. For me that band was Modern Life is War. I discovered this band during a particularly ripe time for hardcore/punk in the early 2000's, a time when bands like American Nightmare, Reach the Sky, Champion, WHN?, Suicide File, No Warning, Count Me Out, Panic and so many more were active (look at the lineup for Posi Fest 2002-2004 for a good example of the core at that point). MLIW stood out amongst the stellar crop of bands at the time mainly because they were heavy without being metal core, they didn't play super fast, and they had lyrics that i related to and felt. This band made me realize how much Hardcore/Punk meant to me. They are also probably the only band i could ever want to see for 37 nights in a row (which i did).
LA Guns/Faster Pussycat/Motley Crue/Guns n Roses --
4 way tie here on this entry. The debut albums from these 4 Hollywood glam bands really struck a chord with me. I would listen to their tapes on my walkmen all the time and think and daydream about what i thought life in a Sunset Strip metal band would be like; sleep all day, drink/drug/fight/fuck all night. This shit just seemed so bad ass to me! I can honestly say that these records were my gateway to punk rock because unlike other glam/hair metal bands i was digging these records/bands were grittier, rawer, and a little more dangerous. The guitar tones weren't super slick and over produced (for the most part). So when i heard punk it just seemed like a more extreme version of what i was already listening too. And yes i still do listen to these records alot (more so LA Guns and Faster Pussycat).
Metallica - Master of Puppets
The 1st time i heard this i was blown away by how fast, angry and raw it was! i used to stare at the cover thinking how cool and bad ass it looked. Metallica (and soon after Slayer) really made me appreciate heavy & fast music.
Descendents -- Milo Goes To College
Fuck, how do i pick 1 record? I believe the first Descendents records i heard were "Milo Goes to College" and "Enjoy". "Milo" has become my favorite. I had heard their name a bunch but at the time ALL was where you could find most of the members, so i was listening to them alot. At some point in 1990, about a month or two before i saw ALL for the first time, i picked up these 2 records. It was similar to ALL but faster at times and a little less produced, I was hooked. Over the years Descendents have been there to help me thru some shitty rough times. At the risk of sounding lame i'll admit to more than 1 occasion of having my heart broken and sitting around listening to the Descendents in the aftermath. And i know i'm not the only one. They also taught me that "thou shall not consume decaf".
Lucero - That Much Further West
This band, and this record, was a turning point for me around 2003-2004. At that point i was listening to hardcore pretty much all the time, just a steady diet of angry, fast, hard music. When i first heard Lucero it made me pull out my old Replacements, Bruce Springstreen, Jawbreaker and Johnny Cash Records. Because to me this band combined elements from all of those songwriters. They were my escape to the constant barrage of hardcore that was my life on the east coast. And aside from the music there was the lyrics... I don't even know where to start in describing them, but suffice to say they were comforting to me. And yes, much like the Descendents, Lucero became a go to band for me when i was feeling lonely, confused and heartbroken. They also became the perfect soundtrack for the long drives while on tour.
Rick Springfield -- Working Class Dog
For the record i still put on his records. But anyways... back when i was a young pup i would listen to whatever my brother was playing, thankfully he had good taste in music, and i would take records out from the public library. My first obsession with a band/artist that was my own decision and had nothing to do with my what my brother was listening to was Rick Springfield. This record has some catchy fuckin' jams on it!!
Bad Brains -- ROIR tape
One day i'm skipping school and as usually stopped in at Sound Connection. I bought a Bad Brains 7" that day. At first it grabbed my attention because it was on yellow vinyl, but the guy working said i needed to hear it. It was a live 7", and had this insane song called "Pay to Cum" that blew my mind! It was so fast and out of control. A few days later i was back at Sound Connection (i was there at least 3-5 days a week) and saw a tape from the Bad Brains so bought it. I was 16 and never left home without my cassette walkman so as soon as i left the store i put the tape on and wandered. For the next few hours i walked all over Edmonton listening to that tape trying to make sense of the sounds i was hearing. It blew my mind with how fast and raw it was. I remember thinking that the people who made it had to be insane. This wasn't fast like Metallica was fast. Metallica sounded like they were in control of what they were doing. Bad Brains sounded like they were possessed or something!!
Jawbreaker -- Unfun
While this might not be my favorite Jawbreaker record, that changes all the time due to stuff like my mood, but it was my introduction. It was 1990, i'm in a car with Todd Flintstone, Rusty Gragg and maybe someone else, on our way out to Sherwood Park court house to yell at some nazi skinheads being charged with beating an old reporter (who's name escapes me). Once we hit the highway Rusty puts on a tape from a band he's booking at the Ambo in a few months. Rusty was grinning as Todd and my jaws hit the floor. The melodies, the rawness, the emotions, that ruff voice, it was unlike anything else i heard at the time yet you could compare it to Husker Du in some ways. A few months later the band played the Ambo for 2 nights and it was amazing! You could put Jawbreaker alongside Descendents and Lucero for bands i've reached out to when i'm bummed out or stuck inside on a rainy day. For the record the song "Bivouac" (from the LP of the same name) is one of the greatest songs ever. Equal parts melancholy, hard and chaotic.
Husker Du -- New Day Rising
When i first heard this record i was amazed at how raw and chaotic it all sounded, yet underneath it all was some amazing melodies. "I Apologize" is a pop song thru and thru.
Forbidden Dimension - Mars is Heaven tape
The first time i heard this tape i was so confused, but i couldn't stop listening to it! The guitars were beyond distorted & fuzzed out, the vocals had some strange effects on it to make them distorted & warbly, and underneath it all was a simple drum machine beat. And the songs were about UFO's, aliens, horror movies, etc. It was all so simple and primitive. And it all seemed so fuckin' punk to me!! I remember going to Calgary with Josh Stevenston for a weekend (at 16) and somehow ended up staying with the members of the band (they had a full lineup for live shows) and got to go watch the band practice and than later that night play an after hours club. It was awesome!
Suicide File -- Twilight
It all started with their 1st 7" and i was sold. Great lyrics, simple punk influenced hardcore. But i'm picking Twilight because this was a soundtrack for my life in Montreal. I travelled down to Boston for the record release show for this LP, it was one of the most amazing shows i've ever seen! I'm actually at a loss for words in trying to describe why this band means so much to me. The lyrics, the music, the people in the band... it was all so amazing and really they became my saving grace for staying involved in hardcore. They were like the amalgamation of everything i loved about hardcore punk. And i'm not going to lie... at their last show (at the ICC Church in Boston) I found my eyes welling up with tears during the last song "Song For Tonight".
J Church -- Camels, Spilled Coronas and the Sound of Mariachi Bands
It's not easy to pick 1 J Church record because the band released ALOT of 7", a few 10" and a handful of full length LP's. Picking this one is kinda cheating because it's a compilation of the first couple 7"s. Before J Church there was Cringer, a mediocre band that got great just before breaking up. J Church was great from the get go, only recording a few bad songs over the years. The melodic music was always a pleasure to hear, but it was the lyrics that i always looked forward to. Lance Hahn could write political lyrics without being preachy and mask it all with a good pop hook. But he could also write something personal that everyone could relate to. One of the best shows i've ever put on was J Church in the basement of the Blue House in Calgary (Showdown 76 and Viceroy opened). Lance was so nice, letting me help write the set list in my kitchen. I don't know what else to write because whenever i think of J Church enivitabily i think of Lance and all the songs he would've written if he hadn't passed away back in 2007. R.I.P. Lance...
In no particular order...
KISS -- Alive 2
The reality is it wasn't just this 1 LP that affected me, it was all the records (even post make-up era up to Animalize). This record really stands out for me from an early age, the artwork, the members make up & costumes, Gene Simmons with fake blood all over his face, instantly jumped out at me. The songs were great and the pyro explosions really came thru the speakers. My love affair with music started here.
Bruce Springsteen --
Hard to choose 1 record. I guess Born In the USA would be the first one to hit my ears, I remember hearing him on the radio and seeing the videos on Much Music when this came out. Shortly after i picked up his older tapes and played the hell out of them. Over the years "Born To Run" and "The River" have been in constant rotation and i'm always finding new reasons to love the boss.
Crimpshrine -
The 3 singles, "Quit Talking Claude", "Sleep What's That?" and the split that came with No Idea, really affected me in those early years of discovering punk rock. It all seemed so simplistic, like me and my friends could be doing this. And the lyrics.... as naive as they seem now, at 16 they made me look at things differently. Read the lyrics to "Fucked Up Kid". I thought it was written for me and about me.
the Specials - Self Titled LP
I first saw the video for "Message to You Rudy" and was intrigued by the sounds, the look and the attitude. I borrowed a copy from the public library and played the shit out of it. It seemed so different than anything i had heard before! A few days later i bought a copy from Sound Connection, put it on a tape and listened to it on my walkman all the time. At 16 this music seemed connected to punk somehow but it also seemed like something someone my age shouldn't be listening, like it was a secret music that older punks listened to.
Stiff Little Fingers - "Inflammable Materials"
Discovering this record at a young age really solidified my belief in punk rock as something different, and as a musical form that was explosive and exciting. The lyrics had something to say and were spat out with such urgency that it forced your ears to perk up.
Operation Ivy - "Energy"
Shortly after discovering the Specials and Stiff Little Fingers i was introduced to Operation Ivy by my friend Rusty. This California band combined both of those groups, and at the time there wasn't many groups doing rough, punk influenced ska. Sadly ska-punk was concept that i never wanted to hear again as the 90's progressed.
7 Seconds - "The Crew"
The first time heard this record i was riding thru the streets of Edmonton in the box part of a pick up truck, riding to a band practice with my friends. It was raw, fast, and had great sing-alongs. And those were all things my 15 year old ears wanted to hear. I borrowed the record from my friend Cam, and a few days later skipped school hitting Sound Connection to buy a copy. I celebrate this bands whole catalog, and yes i do enjoy "New Wind" alot.
SNFU - I'm from Edmonton so of course this band played a big part in my musical evolution. I skipped school alot, and would just wander around town; whyte Ave, the high level bridge, Jasper Ave, etc. And along these walks i'd see posters on walls and telephone poles, and they'd have crazy drawings and band names that i'd never heard before. One name that kept popping up was SNFU. I also saw there name once or twice in the mainstream newspapers. So i stole a tape of "Better Than A Stick In the Eye" from HMV downtown, and once i hit the street i put it in my walkmen. My ears were blasted with "Time To Buy A Futon"; a great guitar riff and Chi Pig screaming his head off. Holy shit! This is so different than the metal/hard rock i listened to! I spent the afternoon walking around listening to the tape over and over and over again. This crazy style of music was what i had been searching for. The other reason SNFU influenceed me was that the people playing the songs were real, unlike the metal bands i would hang around the stadium parking lot trying to me i would see these guys on the street and when their set was done they wouldn't run away to a dressing room that was off limits, they would just hang out in the crowd.
The Replacements -- "Tim"
One of my all time favorite records, and also a record that was a soundtrack for a strange time of my life so it can bring on some weird feelings and emotions. Me and my old roomate Dave K. would stay up for days on end listening to this record over & over again, rocking out to "One Dose of Thunder" at the start of the bender and burning out to "Here Comes A Regular" when all our supplies ran out and the sun was coming thru the curtains. This record is Paul Westerberg at his finest.
Modern Life is War -- "My Love, My Way"
There's a feeling you get when you first discover music, those early years of buying records can be so exciting what with all the fresh new sounds burrowing into your ears. As time goes on you get a little pickier, maybe you you don't get impressed as easily, and you will go thru periods of time where nothing excites you anymore, and you're searching for that one band and record that will change you and affect your life. For me that band was Modern Life is War. I discovered this band during a particularly ripe time for hardcore/punk in the early 2000's, a time when bands like American Nightmare, Reach the Sky, Champion, WHN?, Suicide File, No Warning, Count Me Out, Panic and so many more were active (look at the lineup for Posi Fest 2002-2004 for a good example of the core at that point). MLIW stood out amongst the stellar crop of bands at the time mainly because they were heavy without being metal core, they didn't play super fast, and they had lyrics that i related to and felt. This band made me realize how much Hardcore/Punk meant to me. They are also probably the only band i could ever want to see for 37 nights in a row (which i did).
LA Guns/Faster Pussycat/Motley Crue/Guns n Roses --
4 way tie here on this entry. The debut albums from these 4 Hollywood glam bands really struck a chord with me. I would listen to their tapes on my walkmen all the time and think and daydream about what i thought life in a Sunset Strip metal band would be like; sleep all day, drink/drug/fight/fuck all night. This shit just seemed so bad ass to me! I can honestly say that these records were my gateway to punk rock because unlike other glam/hair metal bands i was digging these records/bands were grittier, rawer, and a little more dangerous. The guitar tones weren't super slick and over produced (for the most part). So when i heard punk it just seemed like a more extreme version of what i was already listening too. And yes i still do listen to these records alot (more so LA Guns and Faster Pussycat).
Metallica - Master of Puppets
The 1st time i heard this i was blown away by how fast, angry and raw it was! i used to stare at the cover thinking how cool and bad ass it looked. Metallica (and soon after Slayer) really made me appreciate heavy & fast music.
Descendents -- Milo Goes To College
Fuck, how do i pick 1 record? I believe the first Descendents records i heard were "Milo Goes to College" and "Enjoy". "Milo" has become my favorite. I had heard their name a bunch but at the time ALL was where you could find most of the members, so i was listening to them alot. At some point in 1990, about a month or two before i saw ALL for the first time, i picked up these 2 records. It was similar to ALL but faster at times and a little less produced, I was hooked. Over the years Descendents have been there to help me thru some shitty rough times. At the risk of sounding lame i'll admit to more than 1 occasion of having my heart broken and sitting around listening to the Descendents in the aftermath. And i know i'm not the only one. They also taught me that "thou shall not consume decaf".
Lucero - That Much Further West
This band, and this record, was a turning point for me around 2003-2004. At that point i was listening to hardcore pretty much all the time, just a steady diet of angry, fast, hard music. When i first heard Lucero it made me pull out my old Replacements, Bruce Springstreen, Jawbreaker and Johnny Cash Records. Because to me this band combined elements from all of those songwriters. They were my escape to the constant barrage of hardcore that was my life on the east coast. And aside from the music there was the lyrics... I don't even know where to start in describing them, but suffice to say they were comforting to me. And yes, much like the Descendents, Lucero became a go to band for me when i was feeling lonely, confused and heartbroken. They also became the perfect soundtrack for the long drives while on tour.
Rick Springfield -- Working Class Dog
For the record i still put on his records. But anyways... back when i was a young pup i would listen to whatever my brother was playing, thankfully he had good taste in music, and i would take records out from the public library. My first obsession with a band/artist that was my own decision and had nothing to do with my what my brother was listening to was Rick Springfield. This record has some catchy fuckin' jams on it!!
Bad Brains -- ROIR tape
One day i'm skipping school and as usually stopped in at Sound Connection. I bought a Bad Brains 7" that day. At first it grabbed my attention because it was on yellow vinyl, but the guy working said i needed to hear it. It was a live 7", and had this insane song called "Pay to Cum" that blew my mind! It was so fast and out of control. A few days later i was back at Sound Connection (i was there at least 3-5 days a week) and saw a tape from the Bad Brains so bought it. I was 16 and never left home without my cassette walkman so as soon as i left the store i put the tape on and wandered. For the next few hours i walked all over Edmonton listening to that tape trying to make sense of the sounds i was hearing. It blew my mind with how fast and raw it was. I remember thinking that the people who made it had to be insane. This wasn't fast like Metallica was fast. Metallica sounded like they were in control of what they were doing. Bad Brains sounded like they were possessed or something!!
Jawbreaker -- Unfun
While this might not be my favorite Jawbreaker record, that changes all the time due to stuff like my mood, but it was my introduction. It was 1990, i'm in a car with Todd Flintstone, Rusty Gragg and maybe someone else, on our way out to Sherwood Park court house to yell at some nazi skinheads being charged with beating an old reporter (who's name escapes me). Once we hit the highway Rusty puts on a tape from a band he's booking at the Ambo in a few months. Rusty was grinning as Todd and my jaws hit the floor. The melodies, the rawness, the emotions, that ruff voice, it was unlike anything else i heard at the time yet you could compare it to Husker Du in some ways. A few months later the band played the Ambo for 2 nights and it was amazing! You could put Jawbreaker alongside Descendents and Lucero for bands i've reached out to when i'm bummed out or stuck inside on a rainy day. For the record the song "Bivouac" (from the LP of the same name) is one of the greatest songs ever. Equal parts melancholy, hard and chaotic.
Husker Du -- New Day Rising
When i first heard this record i was amazed at how raw and chaotic it all sounded, yet underneath it all was some amazing melodies. "I Apologize" is a pop song thru and thru.
Forbidden Dimension - Mars is Heaven tape
The first time i heard this tape i was so confused, but i couldn't stop listening to it! The guitars were beyond distorted & fuzzed out, the vocals had some strange effects on it to make them distorted & warbly, and underneath it all was a simple drum machine beat. And the songs were about UFO's, aliens, horror movies, etc. It was all so simple and primitive. And it all seemed so fuckin' punk to me!! I remember going to Calgary with Josh Stevenston for a weekend (at 16) and somehow ended up staying with the members of the band (they had a full lineup for live shows) and got to go watch the band practice and than later that night play an after hours club. It was awesome!
Suicide File -- Twilight
It all started with their 1st 7" and i was sold. Great lyrics, simple punk influenced hardcore. But i'm picking Twilight because this was a soundtrack for my life in Montreal. I travelled down to Boston for the record release show for this LP, it was one of the most amazing shows i've ever seen! I'm actually at a loss for words in trying to describe why this band means so much to me. The lyrics, the music, the people in the band... it was all so amazing and really they became my saving grace for staying involved in hardcore. They were like the amalgamation of everything i loved about hardcore punk. And i'm not going to lie... at their last show (at the ICC Church in Boston) I found my eyes welling up with tears during the last song "Song For Tonight".
J Church -- Camels, Spilled Coronas and the Sound of Mariachi Bands
It's not easy to pick 1 J Church record because the band released ALOT of 7", a few 10" and a handful of full length LP's. Picking this one is kinda cheating because it's a compilation of the first couple 7"s. Before J Church there was Cringer, a mediocre band that got great just before breaking up. J Church was great from the get go, only recording a few bad songs over the years. The melodic music was always a pleasure to hear, but it was the lyrics that i always looked forward to. Lance Hahn could write political lyrics without being preachy and mask it all with a good pop hook. But he could also write something personal that everyone could relate to. One of the best shows i've ever put on was J Church in the basement of the Blue House in Calgary (Showdown 76 and Viceroy opened). Lance was so nice, letting me help write the set list in my kitchen. I don't know what else to write because whenever i think of J Church enivitabily i think of Lance and all the songs he would've written if he hadn't passed away back in 2007. R.I.P. Lance...
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Great gigs of 2008 (PART 1)
I'm someone who goes to alot of shows. That's not bragging, that's just the straight up fuckin' truth. I work in a record store and get guest list for quite a few shows so sometimes i'll go just to see 1 band, or even just a few songs. On top of going to a lot of shows in Vancouver i also travel for shows, and have been doing that for years. Living in the Northwest is great because i've got Seattle, Portland, Tacoma, and many other cities all within short drives. I'm also someone who puts on shows, under the moniker of No Sense Productions.
I bring all these useless facts because i've been thinking about great shows and bands i've seen this year and how i'd like to write about some of them, but there's alot of info to process so it's going to be slow coming. Consider this Part 1 of a series of ongoing posts about "Great Gigs of 2008". Maybe i'll also write about some of this craptastic shows & bands i've seen this year.
This is a picture of Grave Maker, a band based out of Vancouver/Seattle. They started playing this year and i've seen them a bunch, not to mention done shows for them. This picture is from a show at the Media Club, not the best i've seen them but a great show. Their CD "Bury Me a Sea" is favorite of mine for 2008. The band are true road dogs who are a flurry of activity on stage.
That's Steveston Mike in this 1st picture, chilling up front at the show while i stand on the sidelines.
Handsome Furs and Wolf Parade are 2 bands from Montreal that i love, and that share a member (that would be Dan Boeckner). Handsome Furs is just Dan on guitar and his wife Alexi taking care of beats, sound manipulation, samples, etc. When i try to describe their music it's hard because it sounds like something i would hate, but i love the music these 2 create. Me and erin saw them play at Richards on Richards twice this year, once headlining and once as an opener. Musically their songs are great but there's something special about watching 2 people so in love creating art together, and their love for one another shows on stage without being too cutesy or mushy.
Wolf Parade played a great set at the Commodore Ballroom, knocking out the hits from their first LP ("Apologies to the Queen Mother") as well as their 2nd/newest LP ("At Mount Zoomer"). Their new LP has grown on me over the past few months and that's partially because of how powerful the songs came across in the live setting. I prefer Dan Boeckner songs over Spencer's songs (maybe that's why Sunset Rubdown hasn't grown on me yet) but on the new record and live Spencer's songs are burrowing their way into my brain big time.
Wolf Parade and Handsome Furs are great examples of bands that don't go crazy or jump around or say witty shit in-between songs, It truly is about the songs, and how well crafted they are and how talented the musicans are without over-playing.
Handsome Furs @ Richards on Richards
I bring all these useless facts because i've been thinking about great shows and bands i've seen this year and how i'd like to write about some of them, but there's alot of info to process so it's going to be slow coming. Consider this Part 1 of a series of ongoing posts about "Great Gigs of 2008". Maybe i'll also write about some of this craptastic shows & bands i've seen this year.
This is a picture of Grave Maker, a band based out of Vancouver/Seattle. They started playing this year and i've seen them a bunch, not to mention done shows for them. This picture is from a show at the Media Club, not the best i've seen them but a great show. Their CD "Bury Me a Sea" is favorite of mine for 2008. The band are true road dogs who are a flurry of activity on stage.
That's Steveston Mike in this 1st picture, chilling up front at the show while i stand on the sidelines.
Handsome Furs and Wolf Parade are 2 bands from Montreal that i love, and that share a member (that would be Dan Boeckner). Handsome Furs is just Dan on guitar and his wife Alexi taking care of beats, sound manipulation, samples, etc. When i try to describe their music it's hard because it sounds like something i would hate, but i love the music these 2 create. Me and erin saw them play at Richards on Richards twice this year, once headlining and once as an opener. Musically their songs are great but there's something special about watching 2 people so in love creating art together, and their love for one another shows on stage without being too cutesy or mushy.
Wolf Parade played a great set at the Commodore Ballroom, knocking out the hits from their first LP ("Apologies to the Queen Mother") as well as their 2nd/newest LP ("At Mount Zoomer"). Their new LP has grown on me over the past few months and that's partially because of how powerful the songs came across in the live setting. I prefer Dan Boeckner songs over Spencer's songs (maybe that's why Sunset Rubdown hasn't grown on me yet) but on the new record and live Spencer's songs are burrowing their way into my brain big time.
Wolf Parade and Handsome Furs are great examples of bands that don't go crazy or jump around or say witty shit in-between songs, It truly is about the songs, and how well crafted they are and how talented the musicans are without over-playing.
Handsome Furs @ Richards on Richards
Metal on Metal
A few weeks back Vancouver was treated to a double dose of Canadian metal-heads Anvil. The band was being flown out for a screening of the great documentary "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" so the band figured why not play a show as well.
First let's talk about the movie; truly an awesome documentary that can be enjoyed even if you've never heard a single song by Anvil. Rather than follow a strict timeline/history of the band director Sacha Gervasi (who's known for shooting some big hollywood movies like "The Terminal" )decided to focus more on the last 10 years, showing what happens to a band after the golden years. The movie starts off with testimonies from famous fans such as Slash (Guns n Rose) and Lars (Metallica) as well as some great archival footage including the video for "Metal on Metal" that i used to see on Much Music's "The Power Hour" all the time. There's alot of band history mostly told thru new interviews with founding members Robb Reiner and Lips, some of which were done while the band works their mundane jobs in the suburbs of Toronto. The theme of the movie seems to be that this band wrote a blueprint for metal that alot of bands used and got famous for while Anvil never got their due, but still childhood friends Lips and Robb refuse to give up. The latter part of the movie shows them in it's current incarnation as a band full of hope and desires to play & succeed but failing in so many ways. If you've ever been in a band or been on tour with an independent band the footage from the last european tour will be all too familiar; canceled shows, promoters who promise the world but do nothing, lackluster attendance at shows, rip-off promoters, etc. At one point you see the band excited to be headlining a "big" metal fest in a 10,000 seat arena only to hit the stage to a meager crowd of less than 200.
If you have the chance to see this movie, do it. And if you're lucky the band will be in attendance to do a Q&A afterwards like they did here in Vancouver. Quite entertaining. Check out the site Anvil! The Story of Anvil".
The next night Anvil rocked Pat's Pub, a little hotel bar down in the depths of hell, aka Main & Hastings, one of the most poverty stricken and drug infested neighborhoods in Canada. Normally this bar hosts punk and garage rock shows, usually i'm not super excited about shows here because of the shitty sight lines and half-decent PA. The stage is so tiny that only the drum kit could fit on the stage (along with the amps). This left Lips and the bassist to play on the floor with all the metal heads, punks and freaks in their face! The guys in Anvil were super excited about life and getting to play in Vancouver as it's been around 10 or more years since they last visited our fair city. Highlights of the hour plus set; introducing a song Lips said "this is about my computer addiction, i've got it down perfect with the right hand on the mouse and the left hand jerking it" and then after talking about a porn site about squirters (google that!) he went on to say "you know you're doing the job right when she starts squirting, right guys? You get down there and take a bite and the fruit starts squirting!". I laughed so damn hard!! The other highlight was the last song of the set (before the encore)... a true metal anthem...METAL ON METAL!! What a song, and everyone was singing along like their lives depended on it.
Here's some pictures from the show....
First let's talk about the movie; truly an awesome documentary that can be enjoyed even if you've never heard a single song by Anvil. Rather than follow a strict timeline/history of the band director Sacha Gervasi (who's known for shooting some big hollywood movies like "The Terminal" )decided to focus more on the last 10 years, showing what happens to a band after the golden years. The movie starts off with testimonies from famous fans such as Slash (Guns n Rose) and Lars (Metallica) as well as some great archival footage including the video for "Metal on Metal" that i used to see on Much Music's "The Power Hour" all the time. There's alot of band history mostly told thru new interviews with founding members Robb Reiner and Lips, some of which were done while the band works their mundane jobs in the suburbs of Toronto. The theme of the movie seems to be that this band wrote a blueprint for metal that alot of bands used and got famous for while Anvil never got their due, but still childhood friends Lips and Robb refuse to give up. The latter part of the movie shows them in it's current incarnation as a band full of hope and desires to play & succeed but failing in so many ways. If you've ever been in a band or been on tour with an independent band the footage from the last european tour will be all too familiar; canceled shows, promoters who promise the world but do nothing, lackluster attendance at shows, rip-off promoters, etc. At one point you see the band excited to be headlining a "big" metal fest in a 10,000 seat arena only to hit the stage to a meager crowd of less than 200.
If you have the chance to see this movie, do it. And if you're lucky the band will be in attendance to do a Q&A afterwards like they did here in Vancouver. Quite entertaining. Check out the site Anvil! The Story of Anvil".
The next night Anvil rocked Pat's Pub, a little hotel bar down in the depths of hell, aka Main & Hastings, one of the most poverty stricken and drug infested neighborhoods in Canada. Normally this bar hosts punk and garage rock shows, usually i'm not super excited about shows here because of the shitty sight lines and half-decent PA. The stage is so tiny that only the drum kit could fit on the stage (along with the amps). This left Lips and the bassist to play on the floor with all the metal heads, punks and freaks in their face! The guys in Anvil were super excited about life and getting to play in Vancouver as it's been around 10 or more years since they last visited our fair city. Highlights of the hour plus set; introducing a song Lips said "this is about my computer addiction, i've got it down perfect with the right hand on the mouse and the left hand jerking it" and then after talking about a porn site about squirters (google that!) he went on to say "you know you're doing the job right when she starts squirting, right guys? You get down there and take a bite and the fruit starts squirting!". I laughed so damn hard!! The other highlight was the last song of the set (before the encore)... a true metal anthem...METAL ON METAL!! What a song, and everyone was singing along like their lives depended on it.
Here's some pictures from the show....
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Revival tour hits Seattle!!
A couple weeks back i found myself in Seattle for the Revival tour, featuring Tim Barry, Chuck Ragan, Ben Nichols, and for this stop on the tour, Austin Lucas and Kevin Seconds. This tour was modeled after old folk/bluegrass tours where performers not only sing songs solo but they also collaborate with each other. The tickets said show at 8pm and right on cue all 5 of the singer/songwriters walked onstage accompanied by a stand-up bass player, a pedal steel guitarist and a violinist. In total there was 8 people on stage! The set started with everyone playing "Shoulda, Oughta" by Tim Barry which was even more powerful with all the extra vocals and instruments. That song was followed up with a Chuck Ragan song and then a Lucero song (that would be Ben Nichols band). These first 3 songs were worth the price of admission and the hours spent on a stinky greyhound bus alone! As i stood front & center singing along with "Last Night In Town" by Lucero my mind was reeling at the idea that i was listening to Ben doing an acoustic version of this song with Chuck Ragan from Hot Water Music and Tim Barry of Avail providing secondary vocals!! This is the kind of shit that music nerds like me dream of!
After the amazing triple shot of rock that opened the set everyone left the stage for Austin Lucas to perform. During his solo time a few of the back-up musicians joined him as well as Chuck Ragan to perform some of the songs that he and Austin had released on the album "Bristle Ridge". After more than 25minutes Austin invited Kevin Seconds to play. Kevin has released a couple records solo but is better known for being the singer in influential hardcore/punk kings 7 Seconds. I'd rather see 7 Seconds but at the same time Kevin seems into playing solo and some of the songs sound like "New Wind" era.
This show ran real smooth, no breaks what so ever in between bands. After Kevin played Tim Barry took the stage and was so fuckin' good! I'm a huge Avail fan and this was my first time seeing Tim performing solo and i'm happy to report that Tim is just as charismatic, engaging, honest and heartfelt with just a guitar as he is when he's onstage with Avail. He was in a great mood, joking around thruout the site, but also wasn't afraid to show a more vulnerable and serious side while introducing a song that meant alot to him, talking about 2 friends who passed away in the last year.
Ben Nichols set wasn't far off from a Lucero set; in other words Ben had no idea what to play and all his fans yelled out what songs they wanted to hear. He was joined by the pedal steel guitar player as he played a few songs from his new solo ep "The Last Pale Light In The West" as well alot of songs from the Lucero catalog. It's great watching Ben intently listen to the song requests being yelled at him and then figure out if he can or wants to play the song.
Chuck Ragan's set was pretty intense and passionate, not far off from his days with Hot Water Music just minus the distortion. He played songs from all his releases, some with the back up musicians and tourmates, and 2 of the highlights were the Hot Water Music and Alkaline Trio songs that he busted out.
After Chuck's set everyone came back on stage to play a few more songs including a song that they wrote & recorded on this tour called "Revival Road". In total this show ran for just about 4 hours, with no breaks at all. Yeah my feet and back was beyond sore at the end of it all but i'd be the last to complain about this show. I was so impressed with this show/tour and the way it was run, hopefully it becomes a yearly event.
After the amazing triple shot of rock that opened the set everyone left the stage for Austin Lucas to perform. During his solo time a few of the back-up musicians joined him as well as Chuck Ragan to perform some of the songs that he and Austin had released on the album "Bristle Ridge". After more than 25minutes Austin invited Kevin Seconds to play. Kevin has released a couple records solo but is better known for being the singer in influential hardcore/punk kings 7 Seconds. I'd rather see 7 Seconds but at the same time Kevin seems into playing solo and some of the songs sound like "New Wind" era.
This show ran real smooth, no breaks what so ever in between bands. After Kevin played Tim Barry took the stage and was so fuckin' good! I'm a huge Avail fan and this was my first time seeing Tim performing solo and i'm happy to report that Tim is just as charismatic, engaging, honest and heartfelt with just a guitar as he is when he's onstage with Avail. He was in a great mood, joking around thruout the site, but also wasn't afraid to show a more vulnerable and serious side while introducing a song that meant alot to him, talking about 2 friends who passed away in the last year.
Ben Nichols set wasn't far off from a Lucero set; in other words Ben had no idea what to play and all his fans yelled out what songs they wanted to hear. He was joined by the pedal steel guitar player as he played a few songs from his new solo ep "The Last Pale Light In The West" as well alot of songs from the Lucero catalog. It's great watching Ben intently listen to the song requests being yelled at him and then figure out if he can or wants to play the song.
Chuck Ragan's set was pretty intense and passionate, not far off from his days with Hot Water Music just minus the distortion. He played songs from all his releases, some with the back up musicians and tourmates, and 2 of the highlights were the Hot Water Music and Alkaline Trio songs that he busted out.
After Chuck's set everyone came back on stage to play a few more songs including a song that they wrote & recorded on this tour called "Revival Road". In total this show ran for just about 4 hours, with no breaks at all. Yeah my feet and back was beyond sore at the end of it all but i'd be the last to complain about this show. I was so impressed with this show/tour and the way it was run, hopefully it becomes a yearly event.
Check it out now.... funk soul brother.
I've been meaning to update this blog about some of the shows i've been to, records i've listened to, records i never want to hear again, etc. But most importantly i've been meaning to write about my big brother's blog, check it out at http://acidica.shawwebspace.ca/blog/
My brother Tom is the one who got me into music, at a young age. When i was real young i remember him being a big KISS fan and seeing those painted up faces on the record covers is really where my love affair with vinyl started. As i got a bit older i found myself checking out whatever music was blasting out of his room in the basement, and at that point it was mostly metal with forays into other styles. My brother never seemed to listen to one style of music, it wasn't uncommon to hear Metallica, Dylan, Alice Cooper and Stompin Tom all in a row while hanging out with him. This open-mindedness to music really rubbed off on me which is why my musical tastes are quite all over the map. Tommy is also the one who took me to my first concert; KISS in 1985! Over the years me and him have gone to alot of shows, first while we were growing up in Edmonton, and then over the years in various cities i've lived in.
My brother's blog is all about music and is looking quite promising. When you go to his site you should make sure to look thru the photo sections as he has taken on some huge projects like scanning all his concert ticket stubs (some pretty awesome shows!) as well as his old concert shirts (I believe a couple of these might be mine that were traded/sold during the 90's when i was broke).
The site address once again is http://acidica.shawwebspace.ca/blog/
My brother Tom is the one who got me into music, at a young age. When i was real young i remember him being a big KISS fan and seeing those painted up faces on the record covers is really where my love affair with vinyl started. As i got a bit older i found myself checking out whatever music was blasting out of his room in the basement, and at that point it was mostly metal with forays into other styles. My brother never seemed to listen to one style of music, it wasn't uncommon to hear Metallica, Dylan, Alice Cooper and Stompin Tom all in a row while hanging out with him. This open-mindedness to music really rubbed off on me which is why my musical tastes are quite all over the map. Tommy is also the one who took me to my first concert; KISS in 1985! Over the years me and him have gone to alot of shows, first while we were growing up in Edmonton, and then over the years in various cities i've lived in.
My brother's blog is all about music and is looking quite promising. When you go to his site you should make sure to look thru the photo sections as he has taken on some huge projects like scanning all his concert ticket stubs (some pretty awesome shows!) as well as his old concert shirts (I believe a couple of these might be mine that were traded/sold during the 90's when i was broke).
The site address once again is http://acidica.shawwebspace.ca/blog/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
