If you ever loved Operation Ivy, here’s a little treat for you.
[youtube 0YWLJlmBihI]
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The Vandon Arms – No Loyalty Among Thieves
© 2013 The Vandon Arms
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[rating:8.5/10]
Did you realize there was Celtic style “folk” punk coming outta Des Moines, IA? I sure didn’t. I’m rather pleased and completely taken by surprise with “No Loyalty Among Thieves”, a new release by The Vandon Arms.
The disc offers 13 tracks of mostly original (and original arrangements) of rollicking drunken barroom fare. I’m blasting it in the living right now and it sure is making these beers go down faster.
I’ll say this, the band is not paving new ground. If you wanted to, you could probably call them The Poguing Mollys. Don’t let that dissuade you though, because I don’t believe that paving a new way is their goal. The important part is the fun, and The Vandon Arms has that in spades.
Bottom line is that if you like celtic inspired tunes to drink and be rowdy to, and you’re tired of listening to the same releases that you’ve got laying around, then please do give “No Loyaly Among Thieves” a spin.
–Jerry Actually
For fans of: Pogues, Flogging Molly, The Tossers
The Welch Boys – Bring Back The Fight
© 2013
[rating:9/10]
The Welch Boys are indeed bringing back the fight. Hand’s down my favorite release so far this year brings back these Boston stalwarts. I haven’t taken much time to write as of late, but I felt I owed it to you to tell you about this. If you haven’t caught on by now, I’m talking about “Bring Back The Fight”, the brand new album from The Welch Boys. Grit, vitriol, and punk rock are all well intact in the new one. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
This time around, the tunes bring a whole new level of polish. Not that things were shabby before, but time, and time well spent, bring about the next level of songcraft. It’s fucking here. It’s fucking now. It lets you realize that hardcore punk rock and roll is still alive!
Slight aside, but I’m a little bit concerned that The Welch Boys are so poorly represented here on the left coast, and hopefully my little bit of lip service will help to remedy that. Maybe it’s California where the sun never sets and it never gets cold where folks just don’t appreciate anthems of angst, hardship, and hope? I don’t know. Maybe I have an east coast soul that draws me to the aforementioned. No matter what it is, this is the real deal.
I’ll quit boring you with my gushing. At the end of the of a hard working day, what more do you need than a fist full of beers and a new album to ease you back into the world of the living?
–Jerry Actually
Los Gatos Negros
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I’m listening to some new vinyl. The self-titled from Los Gatos Negros showed up in my mailbox today. Of course, I threw it down on the turntable.
Garage style punk. Can’t quite make out if it’s kids or girls singing half the time, but I don’t care. I like how it sounds. It’s crunchy and fresh. The tracks are short and fun.
I’d tell you more about the band, but well, the album cover is all black, front and back and there is no record jacket. I like the mystery of it. Speaking of mystery it seems like the “B” side is blank. That’s kinda crazy.
At any rate, the “A” side is fun. So if you can track it down, check out the new self-titled album from Los Gatos Negros.
–Jerry Actually
Retox Documentary
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RETOX RELEASE NEW DOCUMENTARY
with guest appearances by Nick Zinner (Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs), Buzz Osbourne (The Melvins)
YPLL OUT MAY 28th via Epitaph
Band On Tour Now
(April 15th, Los Angeles, CA) RETOX have released a 60 minute documentary that is available with purchase of their forthcoming record, YPLL out May 28th. The documentary explores the realities of making an album, what it’s like to be in a touring band today and features interviews with Buzz Osborne from The Melvins and Nick Zinner from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who also appears on the new record.
The full documentary is currently available to watch courtesy of alarm-magazine.com, who also named YPLL, one of their favorites of the week here: http://alarm-magazine.com/?p=63248
“You kind of have to ruin your life to be in a punk band,” states Justin Pearson, currently on tour with new band Retox and renowned for his work with groundbreaking noise outfit THE LOCUST. Retox, along with some high-profile guests, shed light on the hardships and rewards of doing what you love instead of what you’re “supposed to,” discuss days and nights of relentless touring and the intense emotions experienced on stage and making music.
With YPLL, Retox deliver a mission statement in 12 blistering tracks, the vast majority of them clocking in at two minutes or less. It’s the type of rallying battle cry that inspires lingering and dormant primal urges and too-long-suppressed societal dissatisfaction in those who encounter its punk rock lineage and postmodern crash-and-ban.
RETOX is on tour now.
RETOX Tour Dates:
| 5/15/2013 | The Middle East Upstairs | Cambridge | MA |
| 5/16/2013 | The Acheron | Brooklyn | NY |
| 5/17/2013 | Pianos | New York | NY |
| 5/18/2013 | Philamoca | Philadelphia | PA |
| 5/19/2013 | Golden West Cafe | Baltimore | MD |
| 5/20/2013 | The Milestone | Charlotte | NC |
| 5/21/2013 | Purgatory at the Masquerade | Atlanta | GA |
| 5/22/2013 | Circle Bar | New Orleans | LA |
| 5/23/2013 | Rudyards | Houston | TX |
| 5/24/2013 | The Mohawk | Austin | TX |
| 5/25/2013 | Train Yard | Las Cruces | NM |
| 5/26/2013 | Trunk Space | Phoenix | AZ |
| 5/27/2013 | Punk Rock Bowling | Las Vegas | NV |
| 5/28/2013 | Che Cafe | San Diego | CA |
| 5/29/2013 | Vacation Vinyl | Los Angeles | CA |
| 5/30/2013 | The Smell | Los Angeles | CA |
Bracket – Rare Cuts Vol. 1
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© 2013
[rating:8/10]
Well, it’s been a long dang time since I listened to Bracket. Honestly I didn’t know that they were still around. A few weeks ago, outta the blue, I get an email inquiring if I’d review their latest material. Given the horrible job I did back in 2000 reviewing the Fat Wreck Chords release “When All Else Fails” I figure I owe them at least this much.
Bracket, if you aren’t old enough to remember, is a pop-punkish band from the North Bay town of Forestville. Their tracks generally had the sounds familiar to the pop punk genre, but with a bit more of an emo factor, if you will. Rare Cuts Vol. 1 is no different in this regard. That stands well to reason, given that the tracks on the recent effort are all rarities and/or previously unreleased material. Also of note is that this release is the first in a series to be released exclusively through Bandcamp in order to fund two future Bracket projects. So, by all means check out their Bandcamp page and support some DIY rock! http://bracket.bandcamp.com/
For better or worse, Rare Cuts Vol. 1 offers 10 tracks of vintage and/or rare Bracket tracks. You get things like string mixes, live acoustic versions, 4-track demos, alternate mixes and covers. For the discriminating Bracket fan, what more could you want?
If you’re not already a past or present fan, I recommend you start with my introduction to the band, the aforementioned “When All Else Fails” to get you started. After that you can transition into some of these more challenging tracks. Beyond that there’s some good stuff on here. The John Wilkes Isolation Booth (Demo) with its juxtaposed blues breakdown is particularly intriguing.
If you’re curious, hit the Bandcamp link about and help support one of your old, or possibly new, favorite bands. Seriously, what have you got to lose? For your $10 bucks, no matter what, you get the warm all over feeling of having helped a band put out records DIY and what’s more, a Bracket cover of “Do You Remember Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio?”! Enjoy.
–Jerry Actually
Getting to Know the Buckaroux Banshees
Where are you from and when did you get started?
Formed in St. Paul Minnesota! – 4 guys (We’ve since added a drummer! We were 3 members originally w/ no drummer) who felt a serious void of music (All their other groups had called a hiatus or disbanded i.e. – Grimace – Conquistadores – Streetwise Professors – Corp D… You know, typical obscure Twin Cities Punk Groups..) in their lives so one winter day in 2011 they decided to form “Buckaroux Banshees” – A hybrid of all previous group members projects that would try harder promoting themselves. Create sharper songs. And most importantly play stellar live shows!
Who are you and who does what in the band?
4 piece band!
Matt Graske (Me) Rhythm Gtr
Gregg Schmitt – Lead Gtr
Chad Medellin – Bass
Ryan Blue – Drums
* Everybody writes lyrics and sings them!
We have an awesome eclectic mix of singers in this group and this keeps the songs very interesting. There’s no clear front man. – But we don’t care! We ‘ve been working hard on the music! It’s coming together nicely!
How would you best describe the sound?
Fugazi type “progressive” punk music
We challenge ourselves to not write the same song over again repeatedly.
We take turns singing and changing time signatures
We have a disco song
We have a 3/5 timed song. We need to keep ourselves entertained and couldn’t do it by simple four chord punk music
We also enjoy “classic?” metal very much so
We are a very lead guitar oriented band with guitar inspirations from groups like Iron Maiden / Judas Priest / Black Sabbath
Influences include: Fugazi / Descendents / Superchunk / Judas Priest / Iron Maiden / etc
Dream rock moment (real or not)?
To be able to afford to take 1 month off of work ; pack up the van and tour the whole United States (Do-able right?)
We wanna see some of the world… at least what’s in our own country. We’re young and energetic. We hope to make this a reality
Still got day jobs?
Of Course we do… we’re not fuckin rock stars
Matt Graske – Cooks in various twin cities restauraunts (Carbone’s Pizzeria / Corner Cafe mostly)
Gregg Schmitt – Walmart Tire Lube Express Technician
Chad Medellin – Various Blue Collar jobs (Metal Fabrication / Cleaning Screens for a printing company / Occasional Prostitution Work)
Ryan Blue – Gordy’s Steak House! (A REal beast in the kitchen!)
Any regrets?
Yes We should have formed this band when we were in highschool instead of college!
The Big Ska Gamble
(c) 2013 Grandpa’s Casino
[rating: 9/10]
Here’s a little slice of magic for you ska fans out there: Seven 7” records. Seven artists. Seven flavors of ska.
A bad ass little box set of vinyl featuring: The Shifters, The Action League, Lockstep, The Georgetown Orbits, Do It With Malice, Stop The Presses, Sammy K & The Los East 3, and Jorge & The Landladies.
If you’re a fan of ska, reggae, calypso, northern soul, and more, do yourself a big ol’ favor and get a hold of one or more of these records. I promise that you won’t be disappointed. (for the record, if you are disappointed afterwards, I’m sorry. Maybe you need to reevaluate your listening ability.) The range on this collection is impressive. I don’t like to pigeonhole bands, but fans, of DHC, Buck-0-Nine, and The Pietasters ought to find some major enjoyment here.
It’s often a challenge to review a compilation. That’s true now. What I’d like to impart is that this is music, this is real. There are bands out there giving their all for you. I think it’d be kind of you to give it a listen.
The takeaway is this. Ska! (and really good ska, at that) So cheers to your ears! Enjoy! Need I say more? ok, I will. In the words of Ryan Lewis, “This is fucking awesome!”
–Jerry Actually
Find out for yourself:
http://www.bigskagamble.com
http://grandpascasino.com
RETOX RELEASE BLOODY NEW VIDEO FOR ‘MATURE SCIENCE’
(March 27th, Los Angeles, CA) The provocative SoCal band RETOX have unleashed a brand new video, a heart – stopping thriller that portrays the band’s kinetic, challenging energy in their latest track release, “MATURE SCIENCE.” Combining the jagged edges of stripped down/back-to-basics rock n’ roll with bombastic attitude and art-rock intelligentsia, using the prism of the past to look toward the potential brilliance of the future, RETOX’s YPLL arrives via Epitaph Records on May 7th, 2013.
Directed by Simon Chan, the new video features the band in a riot-like scenario, where the band kidnaps a police officer and brings him to an undisclosed location. The disturbing story unfolds in 2:47 minutes, ending in an intense, bloody scene that can only be fully realized by watching the video.
Check out the new video via Lambgoat.com here: http://lambgoat.com/features/69/Retox-Mature-Science-video-premiere
Guitarist Michael Crain offers, “Retox does not in any way condone or advocate the harming of police officers. We do however feel that our society as a whole would be far safer and not as unjustly regulated if local, state, and federal law enforcement were required to memorize the lyrics to Black Flag’s “Police Story” and N.W.A’s “Fuck tha Police!”
Retox deliver a mission statement in 12 blistering tracks, the vast majority of them clocking in at two minutes or less. It’s the type of rallying battle cry that inspires lingering and dormant primal urges and too-long-suppressed societal dissatisfaction in those who encounter its punk rock lineage and postmodern crash-and-ban.
In May, the band will take their energetic live performance across North America.
PRE-ORDERS are now live for RETOX’s YPLL, which will arrive in-stores and online on May 7th. Please go to: www.kingsroadmerch.com/epitaphrecords
RETOX Tour Dates:
| 5/8/2013 | Moonroom | Denver | CO |
| 5/9/2013 | Brother’s Lounge | Omaha | NE |
| 5/10/2013 | The Hexagon | Minneapolis | MN |
| 5/11/2013 | Township | Chicago | IL |
| 5/12/2013 | Smalls | Hamtramck | MI |
| 5/15/2013 | The Middle East Upstairs | Cambridge | MA |
| 5/16/2013 | The Acheron | Brooklyn | NY |
| 5/17/2013 | Pianos | New York | NY |
| 5/19/2013 | Golden West Cafe | Baltimore | MD |
| 5/20/2013 | The Milestone | Charlotte | NC |
| 5/23/2013 | Rudyards | Houston | TX |
| 5/25/2013 | Train Yard | Las Cruces | NM |
| 5/26/2013 | Trunk Space | Phoenix | AZ |
| 5/27/2013 | Punk Rock Bowling | Las Vegas | NV |
ALKALINE TRIO STREAM NEW ALBUM VIA SPIN.COM
My Shame Is True Out April 2nd
Band To Play Live At The 98-7fm Penthouse at The Historic Hollywood Tower Next Week
US Tour Starts April 25th
March 26th, 2013 – Los Angeles, CA – Chicago’s celebrated punk rock cult heroes, Alkaline Trio, are set to return with the exhilarating new album My Shame Is True out April 2nd via Epitaph Records. Fans are invited to stream the album in full starting today via Spin.com by going here: http://www.spin.com/articles/alkaline-trio-my-shame-is-true-album-stream-matt-skiba-interview-epitaph
On April 1st, Alkaline Trio will play an exclusive live set at the 987FM Penthouse at The Historic Hollywood Tower in Los Angeles. In addition, the band will hit the road at the end of the month with brooding punk rockers Bayside and Off With Their Heads for an exuberant live tour which already has numerous sold out dates throughout the country, including Chicago LA, and NYC.
Since emerging in 1996, Alkaline Trio have become one of the punk rock’s most progressive and unique bands of the last decade, rousing a dedicated legion of passionate supporters with eight fan-adored albums and relentless world-wide touring. My Shame Is True is the next chapter in the band’s celebrated career.
What’s being said about Alkaline Trio?
“Rockers show their punk bite is as strong as ever…” – Rolling Stone
“ A gnarled, zeitgeisty gem from the beloved Chicago outfit’s forthcoming ‘My Shame Is True…”– Spin
“…the band finds itself in its most vital place in years.” – Billboard
My Shame Is True is now available for pre-order via Epitaph by going to www.alkalinetriostore.com.
Alkaline Trio Tour Dates:
| 4/25/2013 | The Observatory | Santa Ana | CA | SOLD OUT |
| 4/26/2013 | House of Blues | San Diego | CA | SOLD OUT |
| 4/27/2013 | Fremont Country Club | Las Vegas | NV | |
| 4/28/2013 | Marquee Theatre | Tempe | AZ | |
| 4/29/2013 | Sunshine Theater | Albuquerque | NM | |
| 5/1/2013 | Cains Ballroom | Tulsa | OK | |
| 5/2/2013 | House of Blues | Dallas | TX | |
| 5/3/2013 | House of Blues | Houston | TX | |
| 5/4/2013 | Emo’s East | Austin | TX | |
| 5/8/2013 | Revolution | Ft. Lauderdale | FL | |
| 5/9/2013 | The Florida Theater | Gainesville | FL | |
| 5/10/2013 | House of Blues- Orlando | Orlando | FL | |
| 5/11/2013 | Center Stage | Atlanta | GA | |
| 5/12/2013 | Marathon Music Works | Nashville | TN | |
| 5/14/2013 | Cats Cradle | Carrboro | NC | |
| 5/15/2013 | The National | Richmond | VA | |
| 5/16/2013 | The Norva Theater | Norfolk | VA | |
| 5/17/2013 | Rams Head Live | Baltimore | MD | |
| 5/18/2013 | House of Blues | Boston | MA | |
| 5/19/2013 | Toads Place | New Haven | CT | |
| 5/21/2013 | Irving Plaza | New York | NY | SOLD OUT |
| 5/22/2013 | Chameleon Club | Lancaster | PA | |
| 5/23/2013 | Electric Factory | Philadelphia | PA | |
| 5/24/2013 | Best Buy Theater | New York | NY | SOLD OUT |
| 5/25/2013 | Water Street Music Hall | Rochester | NY | |
| 5/26/2013 | Newport Music Hall | Columbus | OH | |
| 5/28/2013 | House of Blues | Cleveland | OH | |
| 5/29/2013 | Clutch Cargo’s | Pontiac | MI | |
| 5/30/2013 | Metro | Chicago | IL | SOLD OUT |
| 5/31/2013 | Metro | Chicago | IL | SOLD OUT |
| 6/1/2013 | The Rave | Milwaukee | WI | |
| 6/2/2013 | Pops | St. Louis | MO | |
| 6/4/2013 | The Summit Music Hall | Denver | CO | |
| 6/4/2013 | The Venue | Salt Lake City | UT | |
| 6/7/2013 | Showbox Showroom | Seattle | WA | |
| 6/8/2013 | Hawthorne Theater | Portland | OR | |
| 6/9/2013 | The Regency Ballroom | San Francisco | CA | |
| 6/11/2013 | House of Blues | West Hollywood | CA | SOLD OUT |
| 6/12/2013 | House Of Blues | Anaheim | CA |
For more information:
www.epitaph.com
www.epitaph.com