PEARS – Go to Prison

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[rating:9/10]
(c) 2015 Fat Wreck Chords

pearsDamn! PEARS “Go to Prison” is the best, most intense, and my favoritist new release since maybe the Classics of Love “Walking in Shadows” EP.

Barreling straight at you out of the Crescent City, this hardcore punk rock unit is down with intensity and rapidity.

I’ll have to check my references, but I believe it was something on the order of eight weeks (nope, it was totally five) from formation to this albums release on Fat Wreck Chords. I understand the label’s interest. The band has chops, guts, the energy of Suicide Machines (minus the ska), hardcore intensity, and some hooks like NOFX.

I’ll cut this short for now, because I’m into the whole brevity thing. This album rules. It’s my current new favorite. It’s a whipped up mix of punk and hardcore to the benefit of both genes. Frankly I’m a bit jealous that my band didn’t have its shit together like PEARS.

I’d have given this a perfect 10, but it’s about two tracks to short to make the full drive to work. … Maybe I should live closer. Read on if you want the full press release.

Cheers!
Jerry Actually

Continue reading PEARS – Go to Prison

Beastfest 2015

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Lineup everyone and get your tickets to an all-day hardcore event in Secaucus, NJ.

Beast Entertainment, the fine folks who have been bringing badass shows to your doorsteps all this year, present Beastfest 2015. This is the first of a hopefully annual hardcore music showcase at the Blue Room in Secaucus, NJ. Here’s a lowdown on the showdown:

Bands:
Endwell
Knuckle Up!
Doomsday Mourning
Binary Code
Me With Creeps
Silence Equals Death
Low Road
Strength Through Suffering
No Fucking Chance
Full Scale Riot
Under the Red Hood
Hope It Dies
The Dead Drop

Location:
The Blue Room
201 Secaucus Rd.
Secaucus, NJ

Date:
Saturday, August 8th, 2015

Time:
3:30 PM

Cash:
$10 in advance
$12 at the door

Age:
18+

Booze:
21+

Tickets:
Beast Entertainment NJ

Castoff release new EP

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castoff_band
California skatepunk band Castoff release new EP “Lines And Passages”!

San Diego, California based melodic punk rock four-piece Castoff have released their new EP “Lines And Passages” on Morning Wood Records and Bird Attack Records today!

Influenced by melodic punk stalwarts Bad Religion, Pennywise, Strung Out and Propagandhi, “Lines and Passages” blends vocal harmonies, fast guitar riffing with technical flourishes and a furious rhythm section. Castoff incorporate thought provoking lyrics around societal issues and the ups and downs of human existence.

After releasing DIY efforts “The Dividing Line” (EP, 2013) and “Acquisition” (EP, 2014) and sharing the stage with Guttermouth, Implants, Counterpunch, After the Fall and others, they spent months of writing new material. As a result Castoff went into Doubletime studios to work with Jeff Forrest (Blink 182, Rocket From the Crypt, As I Lay Dying) to track and mix their first effort with the new lineup. The result is “Lines and Passages”, which was mastered by Jason Livermore at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Castoff: “We’re four nerds who like to play punk rock with some metal. We also like to sing about important stuff.”

Reality: Fast, ripping 90’s skatepunk with shredding guitar work, interesting melodies and catchy vocal harmonies!

DEFEATER TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM

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DEFEATER TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM
‘ABANDONED’
OUT AUGUST 28 ON EPITAPH

Watch the video for a new song “Spared in Hell“

Boston hardcore act Defeater will release their fourth studio album, Abandoned, on August 28 on Epitaph. The band has released a video for a new song, “Spared in Hell“.

Unlike most bands—and especially most hardcore bands— Defeater don’t write songs so much as they write histories, and specifically the history of a never-named New Jersey family whose already troubled lives disintegrate into torment, rendered all the more tragic for the depth and detail of singer Derek Archambault’s lyrics. Abandoned is the most relentlessly raw and uncompromising chapter so far, powered by a renewed sense of artistic ambition and a plot twist no one expected.
Continue reading DEFEATER TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM

The Doped Up Dollies – Make Your Own Sunshine

avatars-000148719717-qp9617-t500x500I’d be remiss if I didn’t help share this brand new track by The Doped Up Dollies. You might be familiar with DupD as the awesome harmony vocals both backing and sometimes leading tracks for Big D. and the Kids Table. Well, now they’re taking the reins on a brand new album. I look forward to hearing the entire new release, but in the meantime, here’s a great new track.

–Jerry Actually

The Doped Up Dollies:

Sirae Richardson – Vocals
Brie McWane – Vocals
Erin MacKenzie – Vocals

Alex Stern – Guitar / Vocals
Ben Basile – Bass
Derek Davis – Drums
David McWane – Percussion, Vocals, Dubs, Tongue Drum
Casey Gruttadauria – Organ, Piano, Melodica

Andy Bergman – Bari / Tenor Saxophone
Paul E. Cuttler – Trombone
Dan Stoppelman – Trumpet

Special guest vocals – Billy Kottage
Credits:
Recorded and mixed by Benny Grotto in a small cottage in the woods of New England
Assisted by Steph Durwin
Mastered by Jeff Lipton @ Peerless Mastering
Songs written by: Big D and the Kids Table and the Doped Up Dollies
Produced by David McWane, Benny Grotto, Alex Stern & The Doped Up Dollies

Getting to Know Slim Wray

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slim_wray (585x800)Where are you from and when did you get started?

We’re based out of Brooklyn and formed Slim Wray in 2012 – but prior to that, Howzr and Chris have been playing around the NYC scene in punk/grunge band, “Ten Pound Strike.” Brian later joined after he and Chris met while some session work at the Vault Studios in Hoboken. We also recorded our debut album “Sack Lunch” at the Vault with producer, Dan McLoughlin.

Who are you and who does what in the band?

I, Chris, I Drummer

I, Howzr, I Singer and Guitarer

I, Brian, I Bass

How would you best describe the sound?

A 1960’s high school dance that starts with guys on one side of the gym and girls on the other side. Very sweet and innocent. But then some smart-ass spikes the punch with grain alcohol, creating “Jungle Juice” for the first time ever. Pandemonium ensues. The band starts playing backwards revealing satanic verse, then the kids start dancing crazy like that scene from Matrix 3, a motor cycle gang crashes the party and does wheelies on the basketball court, that kid from Science Class sees a bra for the first time, likes it, paratroopers repel from the ceiling, Ms. Kalinsky’s face melts revealing she is –in fact- ZAAR –the alien explorer from the planet Klanduu on a 5000-year mission to observe Human mating rituals, a bucket of blood is dumped on the prom queen. She retaliates with fire made from her mind. Burns the place down. Cats and dogs living together. You know, mass hysteria.

Dream rock moment (real or not)?

I don’t know if you heard, but a few weeks ago, Dave Grohl fell off stage and unfortunately broke his leg. But, so great was his commitment to rock, that he got right back up there with a makeshift cast and finished the set. It was an epic day. One day, I hope to break my leg on stage, and have Dave Grohl pick me and hold me in his arms as I finish playing the set. Then I know that I can retire on top.

Still got day jobs?

You know, everyone in bands has day jobs these days. Even the big stars you wouldn’t expect, like for instance, The Edge from U2. Seriously. Yeah, true story: our tour van pulled up to a Hardees drive-thru somewhere – West Lafayette, Indiana, I think. And there, working the window was The Edge from U2! I’m like, “dude, what the hell? Why aren’t you on tour right now?” And he’s like, “yeah, man, we want to but you know, we gotta save some money right now for gas and tolls.” Its crazy. I mean, if even The Edge has to save-up for tour gas money…

But we got it all figured out. It’s our startup called chikknn. It’s this app on your phone that, no matter where you are, will locate the nearest fried chicken joint. If there is somebody else in the same vicinity that has the app, it will tell you they also like fried chicken. We’re seeking outside investments. So if you know anyone…

Any regrets?

Howzr – That I quit my high school band metal band, Meatmuffin. We were once the top house party draw in Butler, IN, and top slinger of Sabbath riffs east of the Mississippi. It was a simpler time.

Chris – That I never reached-in and petted that tiger at the Bronx zoo -even though the sign said “don’t feed the tigers.” It would be easier to play drums with 5 fingers instead of 2.

Listen to “Take It or Leave It” HERE.

Cheers!

-Jerry Actually

AAK Featuring Joey Image & Dave Scott

© 2015
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[rating:9/10]

aakLife had really been kicking me in the balls. My car had been in the shop for almost three weeks. The misses had started a new job and immediately injured her Achilles tendon. Eight hours in the ER on a holiday weekend, my first long weekend in some time, with nothing but bills to show for it. I spent the remainder of the weekend and the next week playing choreboy for my lady. The shit just kept on coming.

Finally a month and $2k later I had my car back. Wife was off the crutches and heading back to work. Things were looking up and there was a break in the clouds. … Life had other plans. “Go fuck yourself”, it said. Power steering pump number three blows a seal. No car again, and oh, that house you’re in escrow on, the seller won’t make repairs and your loan can’t go through. Well damn! I am tired of this scrotum football routine.

Today though I’m not kicking kicked in the nuts. I’m getting my musical ass kicked with an new release by perennial favorites Awesome and the Ass-kickers. AAK is back with a collection of hard-hitting (like a luchador) tracks. The new album is titled, AAK Featuring Joey Image & Dave Scott. It is exactly what it is.

If you’re not familiar with AAK, first, shame on you. Second, correct yourself. The band brings about a return to a simpler, fun-loving, hijinks filled era of punk rock. The sound is garage as fuck and all kinds of fun.

The new album continues in the vein of what I’ve come to expect from AAK. Odes to tits, STDs, and Fantasy Island hosts. Throw in a dash of classic punk covers and dose of guest musician street cred and you’ve got yourself one classic rock and roll album my friends.

Dig if you will these track names:

1. Ricardo Montalban 03:34
2. Horror Business 02:38
3. Douchie Man 02:47
4. Teenagers from Mars 02:37
5. Milky Tits 03:32
6. A Nice Song in the Key of D 01:20
7. Gonorrhea 03:18
8. White Hassle 01:29

The songs, as you can see, are short and sweet just the way I like ‘em. Punk rock doesn’t need to waste my time being all wanky and cerebrally challenging. Sometimes it’s nice to not need to find a deeper hidden meaning below the surface.

At any rate there’s a new album from AAK and you should seek it out immediately. In fact, go here and rent a copy of this biotch!

http://awesomeandtheasskickers.bandcamp.com/

Cheers!
Jerry Actually

Drunk Couples – Cruisin’

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[rating:9/10]

drunk_couples_cruisinDo you remember the early nineties? Do you remember when glam died and rock and roll made its way back into our collective hearts? Drunk Couples does.

I say that and you’re like, “what?” I’m all, “Dude I used to own Bleach on color vinyl.” Then you go, “huh?” Ok fine. I remember when grunge stomped the guts out of the hair bands reign and some guts came back into rock and roll, and well that brings us to this EP.

Most of the time I’d look up a band, see where they’re from, get a vibe for what they’re about, ya know, kinda see what’s going on. This time I’m going to take a different approach. I’ve got the Cruisin’ EP cranked on my headphones right now. I don’t want to know where this band’s from. I don’t care if they’re on their 25th bass player because their 24th joined the Merchant Marines, I just want to rock the hell out.

If you’ve read any of my reviews before, you are perhaps aware that I’m generally not that impressed with “Rock and Roll.” I’m willing to make an exception for this release. The tracks are tight. The songs have passion while avoiding being saccharine or trite. It doesn’t go into slow jam or ballad mode. “Cruising'” is five tracks of pure win.

Bottom line: Fans on Motorhead, Misfits, Tad, and The Fluid are gonna love this. Fans of Mother Love Bone might. (Unless you really were into Andy Wood’s vocals, then maybe not) Either way these tracks are decent and you should find this band and give ’em a high five or whatever the cool kids do nowadays.

(Side note: I wrote this almost entirely on a cell phone. Take that keyboards! (except for that previous sentence and this one, which I totally used a keyboard for.))

-Jerry Actually