Month: November 2016

Behind Deadlines – Status Quo

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Rating: ★★★★★★★★½☆

behind_deadlines_status_quo

Yay! New Ska!

I’m listening to “Status Quo” the forthcoming debut full-length album from Philadelphia based ska punk band, Behind Deadlines. The release features 10 peppy tracks, and is a damn nice way to start into this holiday season. [Edit, the album actually will have 11 tracks when released. The updated track listing is below.] I think the band and I may differ slightly with the punk to ska ratio. I’d say, that the punk portion is tempered a bit with funk. But hey, I’m not the arbiter of such things (or am I) Overall it’s a winning combination and more of what this world needs.

The album sounds polished. Mix is clean and the levels all seem to sit right where they ought to. I suppose this stands to reason. The production has a solid pedigree, having been recorded by Dan Malsch (Bigwig, Four Year Strong, Forever the Sickest Kids) and mixed by Mark Michalik (The Swellers, We Are The Union, Fireworks, Into It Over It, The Wonder Years).

Over the years I swear it’s become more challenging for me to decide on specific influences that bands have. They have to be pretty blatantly obvious. If I had to throw a few out there, I’d suggest Less Than Jake, Mustard Plug, Deal’s Gone Bad, and Bosstones. I might just be name dropping. Who knows? The takeaway is that fan’s of the aforementioned bands, will probably find some affinity for Behind Deadlines as well. Give it a whirl.

A few notes on individual tracks: I’m not a big fan of guitar solos, but the first solo on track 4, “Hey Dear Friend” is tasteful as all getout. I fully approve. As well, the horns that kick in around the 8 second mark on track 5, “Making Change” are damn tasty too.

I won’t spend a whole lot of time telling you what you already know. If you like ska, punk, fun danceable rock and roll, or any combination thereof, please checkout Status Quo and if you can, go check out a live show. If you’re not on the East Coast, the band is playing a few select dates on the Best Coast too.

Cheers!
Jerry Actually

Tracks:
1. Biochemistry
2. Sick Of It All
3. Laid Off
4. Hey Dear Friend
5. Making Change
6. Six Months
7. Sink or Swim
8. Optimism
9. Worthless
10. Escape From Philadelphia
11. Drinking to Brazil

Neverlearn – Start Tomorrow EP

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Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆

neverlearn

I know I sometimes slack off, a lot, the last few years, but something that still inspires me to “pick up the pen” as it were, is getting refreshing new music from around the globe. Today is one of those days. Seriously, music, from around the planet, is linking us all. That is a seriously awesome connection. The technology we have available makes so much more possible. I suppose that maybe it takes away the former coveted knowledge, secret band thing of the old tape trading days, but waxing nostalgic aside, the unprecedented access to new music from far flung markets is fantastic. But I digress.

I’m listening to the Start Tomorrow EP by Finnish (Oulu, Finland) band Neverlearn. The four tracks are a quick burst of energetic, melodic punk rock. It’s maybe a bit on the pop punk tip with a hint of AFI-esque emo to it. On the whole I dig it.

The guitar leads are as smooth as the rhythm is tight. This is especially present on track 3, Gravel Pit. The vocals are pulled back and ever so slightly washed out. It gives the song an interesting far away sound.

Though there are only four tracks on the EP, it starts strong, keeps ramping up, and finishes stronger that it started.

Get some!

-Jerry Actually

LESS THAN JAKE SIGN WITH PURE NOISE RECORDS

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November 15, 2016 – Los Angeles, CA – Pasadena based independent label Pure Noise Records is proud to welcome to their roster influential Gainesville punk band Less Than Jake! The band joins the label’s eclectic family which includes acts like The Story So Far, Senses Fail, Four Year Strong and State Champs among others.
“These days putting out new records for LTJ has become a lesson in record collecting, but the choice of label is always about mutual respect. Watching Pure Noise work hard over the years and maneuver through the modern music industry should be a lesson for any labels that are just starting out. Couple that with how much they understand the history of LTJ, that they have favorite songs by the band, and understand where we are right now in our career, makes Pure Noise a perfect place for LTJ and the new release.” –  Less Than Jake
The news comes in conjunction with the band’s announcement of a co-headline winter U.S. tour with San Diego rock band Pepper, which starts in Dallas, TX on January 20th and wraps in St. Petersburg, FL on February 28th and is sponsored by Hamburg, Germany based St. Pauli football club. Dates are listed below. Spotify Pre-sale takes place Wednesday, November 16 (10AM-10PM Local Time) and Public Onsale is Friday, November 18th (10AM Local Time).
“LTJ and Pepper will be bringing some summer to your winter in 2017 and the fact we get to tour with some good friends always makes for the best energy for a night of live music.” – Less Than Jake
Follow the band at https://www.facebook.com/lessthanjake for additional updates.
Less Than Jake Tour Dates (w/Pepper):
Jan 20 – Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey
Jan 21 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live
Jan 22 – Austin, TX – Mohawk
Jan 25 – San Diego, CA – North Park
Jan 26 – Santa Ana, CA – Observatory
Jan 27 – Santa Ana, CA – Observatory
Jan 28 – San Franciso, CA – Warfield
Jan 30 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
Jan 31 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo
Feb 02 – SLC, UT – The Complex
Feb 03 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
Feb 04 – Sioux City, IA – Hard Rock
Feb 06 – Minneapolis, MN – First Ave
Feb 07 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave
Feb 08 – Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall
Feb 09 – Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre
Feb 10 – Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE
Feb 11 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre
Feb 12 – Clifton Park, NY – Upstate Concert Hall
Feb 15 – Portland, ME – State Theater
Feb 16 – Boston, MA – House Of Blues
Feb 17 – NYC, NY – Playstation Theater
Feb 18 – Huntington, NY – Paramount
Feb 19 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore
Feb 21 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live
Feb 22 – Richmond, VA – The National
Feb 23 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore
Feb 24 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
Feb 25 – St Augustine, FL – St Augustine Amphitheater
Feb 26 – Ft Lauderdale, FL – Revolution (Outdoor Stage)
Feb 28 – St Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live
For More Information:

The Digs release video for their track Gunslinger

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Gunslinger is one of the first songs The Digs ever wrote and falls in at track 4 on their 2015 full length which is now available on vinyl, cd, cassette and digital for just $5.00 through the end of 2016. The song was remixed and mastered for the video by Richard Marr at Galaxy Park Studios in Massachusetts and features label mate Dug McCormack of the band Psychic Dog on keys. The video was edited and arranged by Ocelot Records owner and The Digs drummer, Steve Knowles. Original cinematography and editing by Russ Meyer, “Wild Gals of the Naked West”.

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DESCENDENTS COLLABORATE WITH MIKKELLER BREWING SAN DIEGO BREWERY ON SIGNATURE BEER

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DESCENDENTS COLLABORATE WITH MIKKELLER BREWING SAN DIEGO BREWERY ON SIGNATURE BEER

‘FEEL THIS COFFEE IPA’ DEBUTING AT SAN DIEGO BEER WEEK NOVEMBER 4th
Feel This Coffee IPA 3

Descendents have announced that they have partnered with San Diego’s Mikkeller Brewery to create a new beer called Feel This – a 7.3 % coffee IPA brewed with Dark Matter Hypercaffium Spazzinate coffee beans.

“Having grown up in the punk rock and skate punk scene, it was an honor to be given the opportunity to create a beer for the Descendents to celebrate their recently released album,” said Bill Batten, Mikkeller SD Brew Master). “While doing this collaboration we got an opportunity to meet the Dark Matter boys and learn about their coffee process. Using their roasting profiles, in combination with our passion for hop-forward IPA’s, we were able to create a special beer as unique as the band.”

The beer ships from the brewery to distribution outlets in 25 states across the United States. It will be available to retailer and consumers while supplies last. A portion will be sold through Mikkeller’s webshop in Europe.

The beer is named after the legendary punk band’s song “Feel This” from the Descendents most-recent album Hypercaffium Spazzinate, which is out now on Epitaph.

Fans in the San Diego, California area will get a chance to taste the Feel This Coffee IPA for the first time at the San Diego Beer Week on November 4th.

About Mikkeller:

Mikkeller Brewing San Diego is a new brand deeply rooted in the friendship of two world renowned breweries, (gypsy trailblazers) Mikkeller and (legendary) AleSmith. The vision is to merge the best craft beer traditions of Europe and Southern California, while employing a curiosity in exploring the boundaries for modern beer brewing. Expect super fresh, hoppy beers as well as classic European styles.

For more information on Descendents, visit http://descendents.tumblr.com/.