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

The Barstool Preachers – One Fool Down

The Barstool Preachers – One Fool Down
Pirates Press Records

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[rating: 9/10]

PPR139“Never look down on anyone, unless you’re giving ‘em a hand up.” ~The Barstool Preachers. This lyric sets the tone for the debut EP from UK ska punk band The Barstool Preachers. I’ve been listening to the three track EP for a couple weekends now and the more I listen, the more I get drawn into the upbeat hook heavy sound.

If I may make an attempt to describe the sound, (you know I’m going to) I’d say we’ve got about a 60/40 blend with the high side leaning towards the ska end of the ska-punk spectrum. I hear influences of Madness, Specials, NOFX, Dropkick Murphys, Goldfinger, and “Stay Tuned” era Let’s Go Bowling. Of course these other bands may or not be influential in the least for this band, but artifacts or their sounds can be gleaned if you listen in.

All of my perceived references aside, despite lyrics that are tinged with a bit of drunken regret, I get a solid sense of positivity out of this band’s sound. They don’t come across as pissed or whiney, but friendly and real. Sure, I like ska punk and this is 100% up my alley, but the songs tell a story and the sound puts me in a happy mood. The only drawback is that you only get four-ish minutes of this gem.

What you get at the end is a one fine EP from what seems to be a promising beginning to an new ska punk band. Three cheers for The Barstool Preachers.

And just in case you don’t want to take my word for it, please enjoy this video:
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-Jerry Actually

The Bricks – Here We Come

The Bricks – Here We Come
© 2015 Raven Faith Records

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[rating:5/10]

the-bricksSup y’all, here’s something for you to try on. Here We Come is the debut album from punk rock / street punk band, The Bricks. Coming at you straight out of Omaha, NE. The band hasn’t been around for more than half a year and they already have an album out. Freakin’ kudos to that. I know what a pain in the ass it can be to even get everyone to the studio.

Maybe you’re like me and you know about jack shit about the Omaha music scene other than 311 was from there, them and some sort of ironic emo hipster guy. Based on that The Bricks are a bit of fresh air to my perspective on the Omaha Sound. The album was described as punk, street punk, oi. I get that I suppose, but I think I’d probably just throw them under the good ol’ “Punk Rock” label. Probably more semantics than anything.

Here We Come has 10 tracks of gunka-gunka-gunka rock with surly vocals, a guitar hook here and there, and song titles such as Punk’s Not Dead, Yahweh, and Omaha Punks. As much as I like the idea of punk from Omaha, I’m having a hard time deciding if there is more potential here or more of a novelty that I’m momentarily amused by. I sense that it is likely the latter, but I’m willing to give this band the benefit of the doubt.

I think what might be the holdback for me is the intensity of delivery. Sadly this is a problem that I’ve identified often in faith-based music. It’s as though the bands are holding back. I’m not suggesting a band can’t celebrate their faith, but if that’s the case, use it as a stepping stone and not an anchor. That aside, I’d like to hear the band push the envelope away from the almost “slow chant” nature of the vocal lines on every song. There’s some bits early on that drift into Social Distortion territory. That maybe isn’t a bad area for this band to explore.

Bottom line is that while I’m not left speechless, I think this band has some potential with what their doing. Take this idea, fellas and run wild with it.

–Jerry Actually

The Krayons – Gaza

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Skapunk’s not dead! Hells Yeah!

The Krayons are a new fast, raw, energetic punk / ska band from Wakefield West Yorkshire. Their songs pick up on relevant world issues and politics in a high energy ball of sonic punk passion. “Ready, Steady, Nuke” is the debut album from the angry Yorkshire 3 piece and is available now via www.underdogzrecords.co.uk . Digital versions of the album are avlialbe via iTunes, Amazon, CD baby, Band Camp, Spotify and all leading online download services.

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MUSINK 2015

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MUSINK-2015---Poster

BLINK 182, RANCID, BAD RELIGION & YELAWOLF TO HEADLINE 8TH ANNUAL
MUSINK TATTOO & MUSIC FESTIVAL
MUSINK Returns To OC Fair & Event Center On March 20-22 with Performances From Blink 182 w/Matt Skiba, Bad Religion, Rancid, Yelawolf, Sick of it All, OFF!, Ignite and More!
January 26, 2015 – Los Angeles, CA – Southern California’s highly anticipated music and tattoo festival MUSINK will return to the OC Fair & Events Center in Costa Mesa, CA on March 20th-22nd with an impressive lineup of musical acts including Blink 182 w/Matt Skiba, Bad Religion, Rancid, Yelawolf, OFF!, SIck of It All, Ignite and more! Presented by Blink 182’s Travis Barker, MUSINK will also feature hundreds of world renowned tattoo artists including Robert Atkinson, Jojo Ackermann, Corey Miller, Eric Jones and BJ Betts among others. Tickets for MUSINK will go on sale at 10:00AM PT on Friday, January 30th at http://www.ticketfly.com/search/?q=musink.
Over the last seven years, MUSINK has become the pinnacle festival in Southern California and throughout the country for celebrating music and tattoo culture. Some of punk rock’s most influential bands have graced the stage like The Descendents, Pennywise, Tiger Army, Alkaline Trio, Against Me!, New Found Glory, Suicidal Tendencies, Thrice, The Used, The Cult, NOFX, Danzig, Gorilla Biscuits, H20, Transplants and Rev. Horton Heat, to name a few.
This year MUSINK ups the ante with three nights headlined by punk legends Blink 182 with Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio, Rancid and Bad Religion! In addition to the music, MUSINK will host hundreds of tattoo artists, local punk rock vendors and a bevy of food and drink.
Fans can also purchase special VIP tickets to the NEW Johnny’s Saloon & 2nd Floor VIP area in the Baja Bar & Grill. Tickets include in & out privileges, side stage viewing area, access to a very nice VIP area next to the band area with complimentary drinks (21+ only) and discounts on food by the 2nd floor. Single day general admission and VIP passes are available, as well as 3-Day general admission and VIP passes.
Tickets will go on sale to the public on Friday, January 30th at http://www.ticketfly.com/search/?q=musink.
Stay tuned to http://www.musink.org/ for additional news and updates.
MUSINK 2015 LINEUP:
March 20, 2015
Rancid
Sick of it All
The Interrupters
March 21, 2015
Bad Religion
OFF!
Ignite
March 22, 2015
Blink 182 w/Matt Skiba
Yelawolf
Prayers
Featured Tattoo Artists:
GTC’s Tattooland, Robert Atkinson, Jojo Ackermann, Corey Miller, Eric Jones, Spotlight Tattoo, BJ Betts, Nikko Hurtado, Small Paul, Juan Puente, Baba, True Tattoo, Yushi, Tom Moser, Carlos Torres, Bob Tyrrell, Franco Vescovi, Luke Wessman, Civ, Todd Noble, Tommy Montoya, Little Linda, London Reese, Alexis Vaatete, Kyle Crowell, Latisha Wood, Zero, Picasso, Shuryu, Gold Rush Tattoo, Jamie Schene, Carlos Rojas, Elm St. Tattoo, Chuey Quintanar, Big Sleeps and many more…
For More Information:
http://www.musink.org/
https://www.facebook.com/musink
http://instagram.com/musink_tatfest
https://twitter.com/Musink_TatFest

Blame Mary

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[rating: 7.5/10]

blame-maryBlame Mary are an energetic garage punk rock trio out of Montreal Quebec. formed on March 10th, 2013 by members Josiah Toufexis, Marie Tilbe and Jon Cleveland. The band’s mission, from their one-sheet is, “about creating simple music that is raw and soulful, while keeping to a very basic set-up.” The statement seems to be accurate.

The band’s self-titled debut EP came out at the end of January 2015. It consists of four tracks captured live at Dirty Church recording studio in Montreal. As the “garage punk” moniker would indicate the songs have a sense of raw urgency. There is clear intensity and an intentional lack of polish.

Overall I like the effort, but on the next round I’d like to hear discrete tracking as opposed to the live capture. Not that I don’t dig raw and edgy, so much as I think there is some potential for a little bit of polish on the bands songs and sound. Not too much, but enough.

Have a listen for yourself and see.

–Jerry Actually