The Psycho Kid – Hypocrite Land

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© 2009 Logan Ave Recrods
Rating: ★★★½☆

psycho_kid_hypocrite_land_300I’ve got to stop moving apartments. Once again I’ve lost the one sheet that came with “Hypocrite Land”, the new CD release by Chicago area trio The Psycho Kid. Thanks, however, to the modern miracle that is the Internets, I have their bio up online. Here’s the rundown: Glenn Brandt (vocals/guitar), Julia Zap (vocals/bass), Chris Morrow (vocals/drums)started in 2005, developing material for their next album, playing music, playing well, making people grit their teeth (not dentist friendly) and making people dance. I say these are all admirable goals, except maybe the teeth gritting part, but I am not a dentist, so I don’t really know. Ok, now that you know who the hell I’m talking about let me tell you a bit about the disc. 13 tracks of poppy punk rock with a good amount of crunch, not to say that the music is crunchy, but the instrumentation is very crisp, it’s snappy if you will. The vox have an interesting sort of talk-sing sort of thing going on with a decent amount of complimentary backups going on. Here is the weird thing though, I almost get the feeling that this disc was recorded at 78rpms and then down-shifted to 45 and then pitch corrected. I’m sure it wasn’t, but I get a weird impression that some of these songs want to be faster … ne, need to be faster. Perhaps I’m just impatient. I tell you what though, I like The Psycho Kid. They are a hard working 3-piece combo keeping the DIY spirit alive and well in Chicago. Rock on!

-Jerry Actually

Loudog – Kito

(c) 2009
Rating: ★★★☆☆

loudog_kitoLoudog hails from Braunschweig, Germany. Formerly known by the less appealing moniker “cumshot”, the band changed names in honor of their appreciation of Sublime and late (Sublime) singer Bradley’s dog. Kito delivers 11 tracks of upbeat roots ska with a bit of punk edge blended in. If I had to draw some comparison I would say that Loudog sounds a lot like a more ska oriented Millencolin. I’d also say they remind me of another band and I’m not sure who it is. I’m gonna go out on a memory loss limb and say that they sound like Umbrella Bed. Prove me wrong. If they do or don’t sound like someone else, what the do sound like is enjoyable. As usual it is refreshing to hear sounds from outside of my continent. Of note, Kito is released under the Creative Commons license. So maybe some enterprising young sound systems can mash some of these tracks into a wicked dub mix, no? It’s your call, but I like it. That said, I would have scored it a higher than a 3/5, but I think some of the tracks could have had a bit more pep.

-Jerry Actually

Youth Brigade Tour Update

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UPCOMING ‘LET THEM KNOW’ MOVIE SCREENINGS & YOUTH BRIGADE SHOWS
DROPKICK MURPHYS SHOWS ADDED!

YOUTH BRIGADE DATES
10/23/09 SLC,UT @ In The Venue
10/24/09 Denver,CO @ Marquis Theatre
10/29/09 Dallas,TX @ The Lounge on Elm
10/30/09 Houston,TX @ Walter’s on Washington
11/01/09 Gainesville,FL @ The FEST!
11/02/09 New Smyrna,FL @ Beachside Tavern
11/04/09 Anaheim, CA @ The Grove w/Dropkick Murphys
11/05/09 San Deigo, CA @ SOMA w/Dropkick Murphys
11/06/09 Oakland, CA @ Fox Theatre w/Dropkick Murphys
11/08/09 Austin, TX @ Fun Fun Fun Fest
OCT 23 / SALT LAKE CITY, UT @ SPYHOP 1OPM *Q&A WITH YOUTH BRIGADE!*
Slug Magazine and BYO Records presents the exclusive SLC screening of ‘LTK’! This screening will take place immediately after the Youth Brigade show at In The Venue on the same night. Seating is limited (movie is F-R-E-E!) and the only way you’re gettin’ in is to RSVP in advance to: youthbrigade@slugmag.com R.S.V.P now or you’ll be left out in the cold!
OCT 24 / DENVER, CO @ MARQUIS THEATRE 6:30PM *MOVIE/SHOW COMBO!*
Purchase of a ticket ($14 adv / $16 at the door) is good for both the movie and show! Doors at 6:30, movie at 7pm, and show will follow!
[Go to website for more info]
OCT 28 / HOUSTON,TX @ THE MINK ON MAIN 8PM
LEFT OF THE DIAL is proud to present this screening and will be offering archive copies of LOTD Issue #7, featuring a lengthy Shawn Stern article, at the showing. A portion of the proceeds from the show will be donated to Rich Cunningham of Happy Days Records, who is undergoing cancer treatment. A record and book sale will also take place before/after the show to raise funds as well.
[Go to website for more info]
OCT 28 & 29 / SAN FRANCISCO,CA @ MISSION UNDERGROUND FILM FEST
MUFF is an ongoing film festival with monthly screenings held at the Pirate Cat Radio Cafe. MUFF specializes in screening independent and limited released films with the intent of shining the light on marginalized ideas and creating an outlet for the independent film community.
[Go to website for more info]
NOV 7 / AUSTIN,TX @ ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE RITZ (FUN FUN FUN FEST AFTERPARTY!)
We’ll be screening the movie to a lucky crowd as part of FFF Fest’s afterparty festivities! $10 gets you into the best punk doc of the yea! Consider it a worthwhile activity as you’re resting your tired festival feet and taking in some punk history. Also, Youth Brigade will be playing the FFF Fest the following day, Sun 11/8 @ 3:30pm on the Black Stage!
[Go to website for more info]

Oh No Not Stereo joins Manatour with Hit The Lights

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October 21, 2009: Los Angeles pop-rock group Oh No Not Stereo are joining Hit The Lights on tour this fall, taking their high-energy live show coast to coast. The four-piece will be jumping on the remainder of the Manatour—which also features There For Tomorrow, Fireworks, Vinnie Caruana and Sparks The Rescue—beginning this Saturday in Anaheim, CA.

Having self-released their third album “003” in March, Oh No Not Stereo are putting up their entire catalog for free download via their website until the tour’s end. Produced by the band with assistance from Jim Wirt (Incubus, Live, Something Corporate) and Max Coane (Jack’s Mannequin, The Rocket Summer, The Bronx), “003” spent seven consecutive weeks in the CMJ Top 200 earlier this year. Music from the record has also been featured on MTV’s The Real World, used in Warren Miller films, and included in the popular iPhone game Tap Tap Revenge 3.0.

For more on Oh No Not Stereo, and to download the band’s catalog, visit www.ohnonotstereo.com.

Continue reading Oh No Not Stereo joins Manatour with Hit The Lights

Becca’s U.S. Debut CD

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BECCA’S U.S. DEBUT CD ALIVE!! TO DROP ON JANUARY 5TH

ON SIN (SONYMUSIC INDEPENDENT NETWORK)

KICKIN & SCREAMIN EP OUT NOW

2010 TOUR DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON

“the stage presence of Joan Jett and Suzy Quattro all rolled into one 20 year old young woman with a bit of a chip on her shoulder and a edge that we’ve not

seen since those two artists hit rock in the late 70s”

– Young Poor And Angry Press, September 2009

Hailing from Portland, OR and now based out of Los Angeles Becca has already made a mark on the international music charts and she is gearing up to do the same in the U.S. as she gears up for the release for her U.S. debut CD ALIVE!! co-written and produced by singer-songwriter Meredith Brooks who had hits herself with such songs as “Bitch” and “What Would Happen.”  Becca’s ALIVE!! to drop on January 5 at all digital outlets and Amazon Disc On Demand via SIN – SonyMusic Independent Network.

Equally adept at belting out full-throttle, female empowering rockers as she is crooning big arena-sized power ballads Becca carves a melodic blast on songs like “I’m ALIVE!,” her vow to live life to the fullest in the wake of the premature death of a friend, and “Turn Up the Stereo,” a cautionary tale to her peers about the dead-end offered by non-stop partying as well as songs examining personal relationships, such as “Turn to Stone,” “Lose You Now” and “Perfect Me,” the expressions of an artist who is wise beyond her years.  Sugary enough to give you a tooth ache until she throws you a sucker punch to the gut!

Look for US tour dates to be announced soon.

ALIVE!! Track listing:

  1. I’m ALIVE!
  2. TURN TO STONE
  3. SHIBUYA
  4. Turn Up The Stereo
  5. Guilty Pleasure
  6. Kickin’ & Screamin’
  7. Lose You Now
  8. EMPTY
  9. Without You
  10. Make You Mad
  11. Perfect Me
  12. Falling Down
  13. I DROVE ALL NIGHT

Check out www.BeccaOfficial.com or

www.myspace.com/beccachanofficial

Follow her at twitter.com/BeccaUSA

Epitaph to Re-issue Classic Blood Brothers

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Indie-hardcore Heroes’ Influential albums Revisited and Re-issued
Like Never Before

October 20, 2009 – Los Angeles, CA. – Epitaph Records announces plans to re-issue The Blood Brothers’ classic albums “Burn, Piano Island, Burn,” “Crimes,” “Young Machetes” and “March On Electric Children” on November 17. The CD and digital re-issues will include rare previously unavailable live tracks and videos, music videos and B-sides for the ultimate collectors’ edition.

From 1997 to 2007, The Blood Brothers’ “molotov mixture of suburb surrealism and sonic extremity” (Alternative Press, 2003) rocked and riveted critics and fans around the world. Formed in the suburbs of Seattle, the dueling singers Johnny Whitney and Jordan Blilie along with Cody Votolato (guitar), Morgan Henderson (bass) and Mark Gajadhar (drums) crafted a unique style of convulsive, ground breaking hardcore that was quickly embraced by critics and fans of punk, hardcore and indie rock.

Over their ten years in existence the quintet released five critically acclaimed studio albums (four of which Epitaph is re-issuing), including Burn, Piano Island, Burn, “the most prolific, beautiful, and vital statement of rock since the Stooges’ Raw Power” (PopMatters, 2003), Crimes, the sturdiest bridge between the hardcore underground and indie-rock elitists” (Alternative Press, 2004) and “one of the best of 2006” (PopMatters, 2006), Young Machetes.
Having moved on to other projects, Whitney and Votolato with indie-rockers Jaguar Love and Blilie, Gajadhar and Henderson with post-punk outfit Past Lives, The Blood Brothers called it quits at their creative peak, leaving behind a catalog the helped define a genre and continues to influence bands around the world.

Continue reading Epitaph to Re-issue Classic Blood Brothers

Skarhead – Drugs Music & Sex

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Skarhead’s brand new album “Drugs, Music & Sex” hits US stores on November 17th!

Skarhead was founded in 1995 by Lord Ezec and the EP “Drugs, Money, Sex” was released that same year. Their follow up album, “Kings At Crime” took the worldwide hardcore scene by storm in 1999 and instantaneously became one of the all time classic hardcore records. Today 10 years after the release of “Kings At Crime” Lord Ezec, a street fighting legend from Queens and leader in the hardcore community, is back as frontman of the world’s most infamous hardcore bands!

“Drugs, Music & Sex” is already a classic and Ezec has managed to record another timeless album for those who love a good blend of street brutality and the most ignorant hardcore party anthems a band can create. A record with yet another impressive and distinct list of collaborations featuring some of hardcore’s greatest from the now and legends from the past such as Freddy Cricien, CIV, Eddie Leeway, Jamey Jasta and Armand from Sick Of It All, to name only a few. Thirteen brand new tracks that will shake the fundaments of the hardcore, metal and punk scene!!!

Nekromantix On Tour With Rob Zombie

October 14, 2009 – Los Angeles, CA. – Revered psychobilly trio Nekromantix will be taking their hellacious stage show on the road, joining horror-rock legend Rob Zombie for a cross country spree of mayhem and menace on the Hellbilly Deluxe 2 Tour starting October 29. The tour will also feature Captain Clegg & the Night Creatures last seen rocking a murderous Michael Myers in the recent drive-in classic “Halloween II.”

Fronted by flattopped bandleader Kim Nekroman and his beloved coffin bass, the Nekromantix and their furious sinister sound will help ignite this depraved rock and roll freak show as it detonates in the heat scorched metropolis of Phoenix on October 29th, before rocking the fleshpots of Las Vegas and descending on the decadent streets of Hollyweird and beyond.
Continue reading Nekromantix On Tour With Rob Zombie

Sadplant – The World’s Got Problems, So Do You

© 2009 Sadplant
Rating: ★★★★☆

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sadplantSadplant … A manufacturing plant that makes sad? An unhappy houseplant? Not sure, I can’t find the one-sheet that came with this new Sadplant disc, but damn! This band from Connecticut has got it going on something fierce. Formed in 2007 this release marks their fifth DIY effort and out of their own studio as well. Don’t wait too long to grab this one though, ‘cause there is a new new release slated for November. I have to admire this band for their sheer energy. They are nothing if not prolific. The music is catchy and punk rock with a unique style that you don’t often get these days. It is especially rare when you see a band cranking out this much material and it doesn’t end up sounding like musical Xerox. I’d like to say more, but frankly I think the new material is in my mailbox. No seriously, keep on with the rock-n-roll onslaught. Incidentally, the bonus track fucking sucks. 😉

–Jerry Actually

BYO – Let Them Know

(c) 2009 BYO Records
Rating: ★★★★☆

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byo_let_them_knowThe good folks at BYO Records were kind enough to send me their new retrospective CD and DVD release, “Let Them Know – The Story of Youth Brigade and BYO Records”. In several words, totally flippin’ rad. Back eons ago in the hard-scrabble Los Angeles Punk rock scene there was a handful of bands, no organization and nothing even close to the internet to get the word out about the minds music and attitude of the American youth. They desperately needed something.

To fill that void, the Brothers Stern formed the Better Youth Organization as a way to form something positive out of the haphazard scene at the time. It was half built on ideals as a means to makes something positive out of the boredom of youth and half built with bored youth that needed something more positive. Through dedication and the true spirit of DIY, BYO and Youth Brigade carried the torch to bring the punk scene out of its fledgling state of loose knit neighborhood punk gangs and into a force to be reckoned with.
Continue reading BYO – Let Them Know