September 2010 – Upstarter

The Enders

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[rating:2.5/5]
© 2010 The Enders

Here’s a five track demo by Lafayette Indiana’s The Enders; a blend of Punk and Metal and a smattering of Rock. The disc’s tracks are performed admirably by the power-trio. The band is comprised of Ben Hagood on guitar and vox, Sam Kock on bass and backing vox and Kyle Martin pulling percussion duties.

The songs, in general, are fast paced. However, the center tracks of the demo: Track 2 Martyr, Track 3 Split Decision and especially Track 4 What If I are considerably shorter and more raw sounding than the intro and outro tracks. I have it on reasonable authority that the shorter punkier sound is the more current direction of the band. I certainly approve of that. While I’m not gonna bag on the more metallic tracks, they are seriously over my three minute attention span mark.

Musically speaking the vocals remind me of a strange mix of Nuclear Assault and Sacred Reich, which is odd, but works with compact, punchy riffs and the minimalist drums. Guitar solos in some of the tracks are a bit much, but that is the anti-epic metal in me talking again. If you’re down with solos, so be it. That’s your problem.

The bottom line here is that The Enders have busted out a solid demo, but I knocked of a few points for the excesses of the first and last track in both duration and unnecessary filler. With that, the middle three tracks are like the delicious center of the tootsie-pop. So support your local Midwest punk-metal-thrash-rock bands and go see The Enders, buy this demo so they can make more music like tracks 3, 4 and 5.

A couple notes: if you have cross-fade turned on, you might want to turn it off. The tracks end and start rather abruptly. Oh, and make sure you listen all the way to the end of the final track to get the wicked sweet thrash breakdown.

–Jerry Actually

Track Listing:

1 Role Model
2 Martyr
3 Split Decision
4 What If I
5 Inkblot

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Dr. Martens 50

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To celebrate our 50th Anniversary, we asked 10 artists to record their version of a cult classic track which represents the spirit of the people who’ve worn DM’s over the past 50 years. We also asked 10 directors to make videos for each of the tracks. The latest release is MC5’s Michael Davis + D.O.A who are covering Cold War Kids’ Something Is Not Right With Me

About the Artist: MC5′s Michael Davis + D.O.A.

Bound together by an admiration for each other’s work, punk rock trailblazers Joey Keithley of D.O.A. and Michael Davis of MC5 have, over the past three decades, become the closest of comrades. And for the first time they’ve joined forces to celebrate Dr. Marten’s 50th Anniversary.

Michael Davis of MC5

Boasting the titles of singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist and music producer, Detroit-born Michael Davis made his name with the seminal and incendiary proto-punk rock act, MC5. Pioneers of the hardcore music revolution of the late 1960s, MC5’s political ties and anti-establishment lyrics saw them firmly installed as innovators of punk and flag-bearers for an alternative generation. After just three albums, MC5 disbanded in the mid-1970s; shortly after, Davis found himself in Lexington Penitentiary – or ‘Narcotics Farm’ as it was commonly known as – chalking up time for his heroin addiction. On release, Davis immediately climbed back into the music arena with Ron Asheton, from the iconic band The Stooges, good friend and member of the punk band Destroy All Monsters. Davis amassed seven successful years with Destroy All Monsters before leaving to join forces with the rock act The Lords Of Altamont. Continuing his musical odyssey Davis then left to sign up for the MC5 spin-off, DKT.

In recent years, education has been a recurring theme in Davis’ life. In 2006 he set-up the non-profit organization, The Music Is Revolution Foundation, to support music education in public schools. Davis has also earmarked 2010 to finish the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree he dropped out from to join MC5.

D.O.A.

Cited as a major influence on the careers of global giants such as The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day and Offspring to name but a few, D.O.A burst onto the scene back in the late 1970s and almost immediately made the term ‘hardcore’ their own – a point underlined through the title of their second album, Hardcore ’81. Building their career on an uncompromising anarchist political stance, their slogan, “TALK – ACTION = 0”, was a way of life and not just a catchy motto. Through the years they’ve stood by those very words, playing benefits for causes like anti-racism, anti-globalization and OXFAM. Founding member Joey ‘Shithead’ Keithley seems reluctant to categorise their sound – and understandably, given that the Canadian born ‘Godfather of Punk’ and only ever-present member of D.O.A. has incorporated genres such as punk, rock, reggae and ska into his musical philosophy.

In the late 1990s, Keithley resurrected Sudden Death Records, the label from which D.O.A. originally released their first 7”. As well as D.O.A. records, the label has also released tracks from all areas of the music spectrum.

TsuShiMaMiRe – North American Tour 2010

Japan’s TsuShiMaMiRe will kick off their North American Tour with self-proclaimed “Japanese Action Comic Punks” Peelander-Z (www.myspace.com/peelanderz) on October 27^th at Streetlight Records in San Jose, CA.

Blending elements of punk, Avant Garde, free jazz, ska, surf, and that funky “je ne sais quoi” possessed by many Japanese girl bands, TsuShiMaMiRe consists of Yayoi (bass), Mari (guitar and vocals), and Mizue (drums).

The band was formed in 1999 when the girls were still in college.

Known to many fans through their collaboration with Cartoon Network’s popular television series, Powerpuff Girls on their mini album, Six Mix Girls, TsuShimamire have embarked on six US tours with over 150 live shows performed in the states to date, including an appearance at SXSW.

Whereas Japanese punk bands often prefer to include sing-along, 50s style elements in their songs, TsuShiMaMiRe appears to be informed more by punk, noise, and jazz, and the guitar and bass often engage in wild riff interplay, lending the music a welcome spaciousness that invites repeat listens. Lyrical content is, as we have come to expect from Japanese girl bands, way out there, ranging from songs about how fish paste feels when it is cooked (“Camaboco”) to an imaginary conversation between a newborn baby and its mother (“Pregnant Fantasy”).

TSMMR’s second full-length album, Sex on the Beach, was just released in the states through Good Charamel Records, the indie label run by Robby Takac of Goo Goo Dolls.

Prepare to experience another chapter in the crazy, frenetic world of TsuShiMaMiRe as the band gears up for their upcoming U.S. tour (see dates below.)

TSMMR also contribute two tracks to Good Charamel’s I Love J-Rock compilation where they appear alongside Shonen Knife, LAZYgunsBRISKY, Molice and DJ Sashimi. I Love J-Rock is available now.

For more information, and to stream portions of TsuShiMaMiRe’s Sex on the Beach, please visit: http://www.goodcharamel.com/?select=artists&data=tsuShiMaMiRe.

Continue reading TsuShiMaMiRe – North American Tour 2010

Smoke or Fire – Release 2010

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Smoke Or Fire are set to release their third full length on Fat titled The Speakeasy on November 9th, recorded by Matt Allison at Atlas Studio. A member change welcomes Ryan Parrish (Darkest Hour) who lends his talent on drums; while this recording marks the first time Gwomper (AVAIL) was part of the writing process since he took over stewardship of bass when long time member Ken Gurley left the band. The Speakeasyis a complete album in the truest sense, lacking nothing, while offering varied, yet equally enthralling melodies and music on each of the 13 tracks. Constructed around the cornerstone of the guitar driven, heavy punk rock sound they are known for, this album evolves much further. Innovative melodies are ushered along by clever guitar work as gruff vocals give way at times to a more polished pitch. Catch Smoke or Fireon a wee east coast run and be sure not to miss them at our CMJ showcase on October 23rd! Take a peek at what Joe McMahon had to say about recording The Speakeasy below:

We were so happy to be able to record the new record with Matt Allison in Chicago. Matt is not only a great friend of ours, but really becomes the 5th member of the group when you’re in the studio with him. We were working with a pretty slim time period on this record, and everyone really showed up. Ryan Parrish killed it on drums, and made such great contributions during the writing process. It was also a lot of fun to watch Gwomper record his Bass on the record. He gets so into it, I think he moves around more while he’s recording than he does on stage. The only hitch we ran into was me losing my voice half way through recording vocals. When that happens all you can do is wait until it comes back, and you have no idea how long that’s going to be. It took 6 days before I could start singing again. When the record was finished, Jeremy and I both agreed it was the first time we had left the studio with everything coming out exactly the way we wanted. The songs, the artwork…everything. We couldn’t be happier with this record.

Mall’d To Death – Can’t Make A Living

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[rating: 4.5/5]

What’s all this then? Mall’d To Death? Can’t Make A Living? Yes, that is exactly what it is. “Right”, you say, “What should I make of that?”. I’ll tell you what. Mall’d To Death is a Twin Cities power trio that brings to the table what I can only think of as Popcore. (That’d be what you get if you took the pop portion of pop-punk and the hardcore portion of, well, hardcore)

“Can’t Make A Living” is the band’s new release, out now on GC Records and I’ll be damned if it isn’t the best thing I’ve heard in the last few months. I might go so far as to say it’s my favorite of 2010. (I might. I might not. You’ll probably never know)

The lowdown though is that it has everything that I like: The songs are brief. They often clock in at less than a minute. The lyrics are clever, missives against consumerism and the defense industry as well as tributes to J. Church and driving like a maniac. How can that be bad? On top of the academic breakdown of song construction aspects, the progressions are hardcore tough but laced with nice ska-esque breaks and fancy melodic guitar lines.

All in all Mall’d To Death have a lot to offer. I find that they bring a refreshing element to the current spate of punk rock. (probably because they are 33.3% hardcore). Here’s a finalbreakdown: Quick paced, intelligent, articulate and not a carbon copy of the shopping mall society that we’ve all seem to become a bit more homogenized by. Bias aside (It is my current favorite release du jour), go buy this.

–Jerry Actually

Track Listing

1 Armani Needle Exchange
2 Blood for Gas Money
3 Mall’d to Death
4 Bomb the Defense Industry!
5 Live in a Dumpster Dive
6 Skateboards for Afghanistan
7 Hedge Fun
8 The Hymns of J Church
9 Mohawk Nation
10 Young Man on a Downloading Spree

Refuse Resist Tour Dates

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Boston’s favorite hardcore punk upstarts, REFUSE RESIST are gearing up for a string of dates on the east coast in support of their THORP RECORDS debut Socialized. If you haven’t wised up and purchased Socialized yet, get with it and listen to the full album stream here:

http://thorprecords.com/album-streams/refuse-resist-socialized/

Then go purchase REFUSE RESIST CD and Merch here:

http://thorprecords.merchnow.com/

And while you’re feeling motivated, go see REFUSE RESIST play at these places:

Sep 18 Holyoke, MA @ Waterfront Tavern. East Meets West Punk Fest w/ Lenny Lashley, The Prozacs, The Blue Collars, Blood Stained Brindle.

Sept 20 Pittsfield, MA @ Rebel Sound Records w/ Flatfoot 56, Continental and the Damaged. 7PM

Sept 24 New London, CT @ El n Gee Club w/ Bloodshot Hooligans, Yesterdays Heroes. 8PM

Sept 25 House show in New Jersey with Yesterdays Heroes (ask us) ALL DAY

Sep 26 Boston, MA@ Church of Boston w/ Buddha and the Boys, Cheech, Bulldog Courage, The Enemy Within, Yesterday’s Heroes

Oct 9 Brooklyn Party Expo, Brooklyn, NY with Antidote (NYHC) 8PM

Oct 10 Dover Brickhouse, Dover, NH with IRON CROSS, For The Worse, Revilers, Nothing But Enemies, Antibodies. 3PM

The Acrobrats – Hair Trigger

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[rating:3.5/5]

Well, it’s been a little while since we last heard anything from Boston four-piece The Acrobrats. Four some years after the first review, (for us) I’m pleased to present their new EP, “Hair Trigger” The five track (one of which is totally super secret) 7” Brings more of the [previously] familiar alterna-punk-pop-rock that I enjoyed on …Go Down Swinging.

All the tracks on Hair Trigger are short and punchy and filled with just enough rock to temper the pop punk sound and make the whole release sound just a little bit more edgy than it otherwise might. Speaking of the rock and roll, The tracks really bring me back to earlier days. Maybe it is because its on vinyl? Maybe there is just a genuine old-80s vibe to it. Then again it could be track B2, “Crave”. It’s a little more aggressive than the others and really picks things up at the end.

At any rate, I dig it. Several more cheers for the boys in The Acrobrats. Keep up the good work. Incidentally, the only thing that keeps me from a higher rating is that the star scale is only broken down by halves. I would totally go 3.75 if I could.

–Jerry Actually

Track Listing:

A1 – Hair Trigger

A2 – Well Enough Alone

B1 – Simpleton

B2 – Crave

WEEZER TO ROCK THE “TONIGHT SHOW” ON WEDNESDAY

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September 13, 2010 – Los Angeles, CA – Grammy® award winning alternative rock heroes Weezer will be performing their hot new single “Memories” live on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on September 15 at 11:35PM/10:35CT in celebration of the their new album, Hurley, which is in stores everywhere tomorrow. Fans can purchase the single “Memories” now on iTunes (http://tinyurl.com/29gxd3r) and stream it along with the entire new album now at www.myspace.com/weezer.

Weezer recently enlisted the help of longtime friends Johnny Knoxville and the crew from Jackass to shoot a high-energy, rambunctious new video for the first single from Hurley, and the result was a hilarious concoction of bowl shredding skaters and an outrageous, must-see performance by the band and crew. Watch the video now at http://tinyurl.com/33zhcoy.

Street Dogs

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[rating:4/5]

So, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there is a new Street Dogs release out. It came out a couple weeks ago on Hellcat Records. I’ve been rolling the new release in my car for a couple weeks now more or less nonstop and it is pretty damn amazing.

The self-titled disc has 18 tracks of anthemic, workin’ man’s angry, yet sing-a-long punk rock. Seriously, the disc is invigorating; the kind of music that will inspire you to go a little bit father than you’ve gone before. Its the kind of disc that makes you think that you don’t have to abandon all hope, and I think there is a good reason for that. Not to diminish the roles of the other band members, I think that the major force for the inspiration that Street Dogs bring is from Mike McColgan. For real, the guy is a near dictionary definition of American Badass.

Before the Street Dogs, McColgan served in the US Army in the first gulf war. After returning home he was the lead singer for Dropkick Murphys (I’d imagine you’ve heard of them, right?) Inspired by family, McColgan left the promising band to become a Boston Firefighter. Pretty freakin’ badass, no? McColgan, however, still had the punk rock in his veins. After several years he started a new band. Now with five full length releases under their belt, I think that brings us up to present.

2010’s self-titled release really has blown me away with the quality of the songs, the lyrics, the musicianship the presentation is all top notch. Some of my personal favorites on the release are 2. Rattle & Roll, 4. Punk Rock and Roll and the closer 18. Poor, Poor Jimmy. Seriously, if you’re going to pick up some new music anytime soon, I’d consider this. … and to paraphrase Comic Book Guy, I say, “Best Street Dogs ever.”

–Jerry Actually