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ISSUE 37
EXPOSING YOU
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GROWTH IN
MUSIC
LIVE SHOW
REVIEWS:
RUTH RUTH
KMFDM
MURDER JUNKIES
JET / The Hives
Hot Water Music
All That Remains
Bloody & The
Transfusions
Chris Robinson
Thornley
The Explosion
ASK BASEMENT
STEVE
Gilroy
INTERVIEWs
AGAINST ME
TONS OF DVD
CD REVIEWS
Zeb
Chris Kennedy of Ruth Ruth
All the Summer’s big Concerts and Musicals
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AGAINST ME! INTERVIEW with Chris Gilroy
It was this Easter Sunday at Providence RI’s The Call. Most Sunday evenings are spent around a dinner table with family and or
friends, relaxing, eating delicious food, be it vegan, vegetarian or a real turkey. I spent this most recent Easter Sunday with my little
brother and some great, close friends. However, mine had no table, though we were able to score a nice couch. We also spent it with a
beloved group of drunks, AGAINST ME! After a long night of dancing, singing along, and just having a great time, we spoke with
most of the band.
Christopher: How long have you guys
been on tour so far, is this in support of
the new album?
Tom Gable (lead singer/guitar): Well,
the new record came out on November
4th or whatever, and we have been on
tour since October, so I guess before
the 4th it wasn't supporting it, and
after the release it was supporting it...
Andy (bass/backing vocals): I don't
even know if there is such a thing as
supporting it cuz the thing is we just
tour all the fuckin time. I mean the
record could be out for two years and
we would still probably be on tour.
Erika: Why do you tour so much?
Tom: cuz, we have rent to pay, haha.
Andy: and to physically kill ourselves.
Tom: and it's fun to, I don't want to be
working a job, this is fuckin rad. beats
washing dishes.
Matt: What did you guys do before you
guys were touring?
Tom: well, I still do this now when I get
off tour, though I haven't been in town
for a really long time but I work as a
door man checking IDs. We get a lot of
small jobs, whether it's working
carpentry or in a kitchen or whatever.
Andy: there are employers for when we
are in town for more then eight days, so
it's been a while.
Matt: When did you guys start touring?
Tom: uh, well, I think it 98, yea 98 was
my first tour.
Andy: We have all been in touring
bands pretty much since we were like
17.
Tom: I’m 23 now.
Andy: no you're not, really?
Tom: yea I am.
Andy: holy shit, I’m like eleven fuckin
years older then you. (A hardy laugh
from us all, like haha!)
Christopher: do you guys see more and
more kids at the shows?
Tom: well yea, I mean every time we go
on tour it gets significantly better but
it's not like the first show there was no
one there and then next time there is
like a million.
Erika: yea, kids are like 'hey, I just saw
AGAINST ME! You gotta see them next
time!'
Andy: yea, like they'll be back in two
months, they are on tour all the time.
haha
Erika: Next time, I think when you guys
tour, you shouldn't play in a club. I saw
you guys at the Sickle {as a side note, this
is a Providence show, for those who do
not know, there was a section of town
called Olneyville that was warehouse
space that a bunch of DIY kids rented out.
they did tons and tons of shows, one of
the longest running homes was the Sickle.
In the middle of January, building
inspectors decided no one could live there
and 60 plus artists were evicted from their
rented homes, some had appropriate lease,
with one week’s notice.}. Yea, it was like
two years ago and it was just way cooler.
Andy: yea, that place shut down. It was
with Spring Builder. There was a boat
Matt: wow, you have quite a memory.
Andy: no, I just got the CD, it's
awesome! It’s really good. For us
not to play here, we need to be offered
an alternative.
Matt (pointing to me): yea, you wanna
play his basement? ha-ha
Andy: depends on if you want your
basement destroyed....
Tom: it's also one of those things
where, you know, you want to play a
place where everyone feels welcomed.
Where it is open to the public. Your
basement, not like, ha-ha, it's not the
most social point in town.
Andy: yea like last night we played at a
youth center in Boston...
Matt: oh yea, I was there!
Christopher: do you play a lot of
community centers, or clubs or...
Andy: well, pretty much Clear Channel
owns everything in America right now
and we avoid that. Which means, we
end up playing community centers and
independent clubs and stuff like that. I
mean sometimes they work out
fantastic, sometimes it uh......didn't
work out, but that's the way it goes.
Matt: did you guys ever get arrested for
something involving a show?
Tom: yea, we have been pretty close.
There was this one time, in Denver, it
was like eight bucks at the door. And
like two bands before we were
supposed to come on cops like raided
the place. Apparently two cops went
undercover and paid to get in and hung
out and the busted it as a rave but like
paddy wagons pulled up, fuckin
helicopters were flying around and
EVERYONE was sitting down. They
wouldn't let anyone leave or come in,
we were like 'uh, can we just grab our
equipment and take off?' ha-ha. It was
really a hairy situation for a little bit.
Erika: yea, there are a lot of undercover
cops here, it takes an eye to spot them...
Andy: really?
Matt: well, isn't that why they are
undercover? So no one can see them? Haha
Andy: does providence have a lot of
crime?
Matt: Yea, yes we do. We have one of the
highest crime rates.
Erika: not only that, but we have the
largest teen pregnancy, drunk driving and
child pornography.
Andy: I was reading your daily thing,
the Phoenix, and there was a big porn
pull out. There are a lot of sex shops
around here huh?
Matt: I was in a convenient store and
there was this old man staring at Maxim
or something, I walked by and was like
"uhhh" then as I was leaving a saw his
wife and kids walk up to him.
Christopher: yea, I work at a indie record
store and Rolling Stone just released a
huge issue about Britney Spears and some
like 55 year old guy bought it. It was like,
washing my hands after that one.
Andy: yea, like I’m on tour, I’m really
bored, I mean I come and sit in a
parking lot for like 3 hours so I just
read like anything. I was reading the
personals, they are really funny. Like
the abbreviations are down to like dad
seeking son. 55 year old man seeking 15
to 25 year old son. For adventure and...
Matt: I'd call and be like I’ll find you and
kill you! Ha-ha
Tom: it probably costs like four dollars
to call him.
{Someone at this points ask for a beer, I
think it was Andy. this inspired
discussion}
Matt: so you guys alcoholics? Haha
Andy: I would say in the least
definition, yes. Apparently if you are
from a family of alcoholics, then you
are an alcoholic. But I don't believe
that.
Matt: yea, like, I don't drink and I come
from a family of alcoholics. That and I’m
fifteen....
Tom: give it some time, ha-ha.
Erika: but if you're an alcoholic, you're
always an alcoholic...
Andy: well, I don't know. I think that's
bullshit AA terms. AA, I agree with
some of it, but like going to a meeting
everyday and being like, I’m an
alcoholic ...my names Jim, (ha-ha). I
mean I drink occasionally, I have a
good time, but I mean, to me it's not
that big of a deal. I never endanger my
friends or my loved ones or anyone else
by drinking so...
Tom: I mean it's kinda hard touring all
the time cuz it's ... (group says 'there'.
group laughs. I like interviews.) You just
end up hanging out every night and
people are drinking, and you start
drinking. I, this will sound fucked up,
but I took five nights off from drinking
cuz I realized I had been drunk more
nights, ha-ha.
Matt: what do you guys think of other
drugs?
Andy: well, I think the band policy is
like to each his own. I’m not gonna
stand here and be like don't fuckin do
that cuz I wouldn't, you know?
Matt: what if Warren came strung out on
heroin?
Andy: when it becomes a problem there
would be like, "hey Bearded Hippie,
you gotta stop..." so far, Warren's
heroin is going great. Ha-ha. There is
like a fine line between drinking a lot of
beers or becoming hooked on crank.
Like robbing your best friends.
Christopher: on that same note, what do
you think of the straight edge scene, like
no you can't do drugs, X up and so forth.
Tom: that's like the same mentality,
like using it as a crutch like getting
fucked up all the time. There is a happy
medium and moderation, you know?
Some people can handle it and some
people can't. People don't have to
handle drugs and preach to the world
about it.
Andy: yea it's like the same as hippie
jam bands. Come on everybody, smoke
spliff! It’s the same as somebody being
like, don't ever smoke weed.
{at this point someone comes into the
'backstage room', more like a broom
closet, and says he's heading out. they
mention something about girls talking
about hepatitis. as soon as the kid leaves,
Matt shoots}
Matt: what do you thing about your music
being fuckin gospel to these kids?
Andy: I love it.
Tom: you try not to think too much
about it. I don't really sit around and
be like wow, these people are just really
into it...ha-ha.
Matt: but doesn't it just blow your mind
that like, this music, I created this music
and these kids love it so much?
Erika: and you get to play it everyday.
Andy: we don't take it for granted. The
best feeling I have ever had was, we
were touring Europe last year, the first
show we played was in London, I mean
I have been there before, but not in a
band. We started playing "pints of
Guinness make you strong" and the
whole place started singing along. It
was like wait a minute, we're not in
fuckin Gainesville {their home town},
we're in London. The flesh on my arms
just went...just total goosebumps, like
everywhere. That’s one of the best
feelings I ever had. It feels very
heartwarming and awesome that
people really like this band because if
people weren't into it, we probably
would still do it, but it just feels so
good. It feels so nice. It’s our fuckin
privilege do be doing this, we don't take
it for granted.
Tom: I mean, we have a million friends
who play in better bands... (Starts trying
to name some, ANDY came up with
Springsteen...)
Andy: NO CHOICE. Like NO
CHOICE. Seriously their album that
they have out right now, is one of the
best CDs I’ve heard in a year. And
when they play, everyone just stands. I
know you have to tour and build it up.
To me, I’ve heard it so many times that
I’m like come on!
Tom: building it up is a hard thing to
do when you're from Whales.
Christopher: do you guys remember the
first show you ever played?
Tom: I guess technically the first band
was called BLACK SHADOWS, but we
changed it to LEATHER DICE a little
bit later. The first show we sang
"Bohemian Rhapsody" a capella at my
church youth group. Then 3 or 4
months later, we covered John Lennon
"Imagine" as a full band. And then, 3
or 4 months later, we covered "Heart
Shaped Box". This was all at church.
Andy: my 8th grade talent show, I
played bass in a Metallica cover band.
We did "Enter the Sandman", and it
was fuckin horrible. The first time I
played with AGAINST ME! Was in
Gainesville, we played a real small
coffee shop that fits like 150 people. It’s
just small and a great show. It’s very
awkward and amazing to play for the
first time with a band from Gainesville
and you're not from there, you just
moved there to be in the band.
Matt: so the self titled 12 inch, is that ever
gonna be re-released?
Tom: probably. Maybe like some songs
off that and some off the demo tape. It’s
not like something I’m dying to do.
Matt: it's something I’m dying to hear....
(laughs)
Erika: so, are you an anarchist or a
spineless liberal?
Andy: well, I don't consider myself
anything, a liberal or anything like that
cuz I don't believe in it. I think its all
bullshit. I believe in myself...(someone
says 'isn't that what anarchy is all
about?') what anarchy is all about is no
god, no master, stuff like that. Like, I
believe that if it were true anarchy, we
all would be fucked. There has to be
basic rules like I’m not gonna shoot you
in the head. This is gonna get real deep
real quick...
Tom: I kinda think that the definition
of anarchy is an oxymoron. I consider
myself an anarchist but the theory
behind it is that government and gods
and masters are illusions and you can
buy in if you want. There are a million
different theories and that's it, you
make up your own mind about it. You
can't say it will never work because the
fact is that anarchy exists and people
organize. I believe there is a possibility
for man to exist without rules. It can't
be an overnight thing. Progressively,
man can evolve...
Matt: but the communists thought that
too.
Tom: you're kidding yourself if you
think this is what it will be forever, with
the United States government or
whatever, man will evolve. Right now is
how mankind has organized itself.
Andy: it might take like a mass
destruction to trigger it.
Matt: that might not be to far away.
Andy: it's very scary but also they have
been saying that forever, you know
what I mean? I was born in 1977 and
my parents lived through the Bay of
Pigs where nuclear war, well it was a
lot scary time then now. They trained
you to hide under a desk when a fuckin
A-bomb is coming. Everyone was
worried about nuclear bombs. If a
nuclear bomb landed in New York
City, there would be 8 million people
dead *snaps fingers* like that. Not 3
thousand from two planes going into 2
towers. I’m scared right now, it's scary
but I can't even imagine living back
then. Granted they don't have the news
like we have now, you watch Fox News
now and you're gonna lose your mind.
It’s like kill darky, conservative
bullshit. It’s all horse shit, that's all I
gotta say.
*at this point we moved out of the closet
and into the club once more, we asked a
few more questions but it came out as
white noise on the tape. Sorry kids. There
are a lot more laughs though. He likes
electric guitars because he can feedback
and stuff. They were nice. WAIT! Now
there is a beautiful discussion with Mr.
Warren Oats. He plays drums.*
Matt: how do you feel the show went
tonight?
Warren: I feel like it was an awesome
show. It was a little more intimate then
some of the other shows, I’m sure
Easter Sunday is a big part of it. I was
feeling really loose while I was playing
and really comfortable.
Matt: everyone loves you, how does that
feel? Even this kids (*pointing at
someone wearing a 'No Warren Iraq' Tshirt.)
Warren: they came out pretty well. I
kinda think that a lot of people think of
me as like a cartoon character almost.
Like I’m not 3 dimensional. Sometimes.
*laughs* it's a weird thing but at the
same time it's amazing that people
really like what we're investing our
energy into. Cuz we invest a lot of time
and energy into what we're doing. And
to have that rewarded with like peoples
enthusiasm and excitement, cuz we're
really excited about what we're doing,
that's awesome. I think it's kinda
foreign to all of us, we have all been
playing music for a long time; all
experienced playing to 5 kids who
couldn't care less over and over again,
and then you get a lot of enthusiasm
over it, it seems like you really struck
on something and that's awesome. It’s
got its ups and downs, sacrifices have to
be made, give one thing for another
thing, and what we got is more then we
ever really expected.
Christopher: what do you think about the
new album?
Warren: I really like it. It took us a
little while to digest it after we did it,
we took a time away from it because we
were compulsively listening to it, is that
fine, could that be better? Could t be
cooler sounding there? Nit picking it. so
I didn't listen to it for a while, then sat
in my room by myself, got high, and
after two weeks without listening to it
started tapping my foot and I listened
to it all the way through and was
content. I don't listen to it very often, to
intense to listen to your own music.
Christopher: do you prefer playing clubs
or like warehouses and youth centers?
Warren: I prefer... all of the above. I
like the variety pack, I like being able
to play at a ton of different places
which is really great about being where
we are right now, is we have the luxury
to play anywhere. Some bands, we did
this tour with ANTI-FLAG *long
pause* dot dot dot...(it is so hard not to
laugh at this, we love you Warren!) every
night kinda felt like the same room.
They have to play there because a lot of
kids come out and they need places that
hold that capacity. All those places are
pretty much the same. Those packaged
tours, same venue, same bands, same
order even same songs in the same
order, that kind of wears me down
mentally. You feel like you’re in this
Ground Hog day kinda thing.
Matt: when the new album came out did
you feel like you should be playing the
whole thing?
Warren: not really, I feel that there are
songs that we love to play and are
really old and there are songs that are
newer that we definitely love to play.
Like if you play 8 songs in a row that
no one has heard it kinda dies which
used to be our new songs off Eternal
Cowboy people weren't familiar with it.
Then there are people who might have
heard it recently and are not familiar
with the older stuff.
Matt: well I noticed that the crowd really
picked up for like "Pints of Guinness..."
Warren: that's always the case with our
older stuff, but I mean it's awesome
that anyone gets into any of our stuff
anyway so...
Christopher: so I have a question, it was a
rumor that we heard a while ago and we
hope it's not true. Capitol records, did you
guys sign anything with them?
Warren: we're signed to Capitol? My
policy in dealing with rumors... we are
signed now to Capitol slash
DreamWorks for a 6 album confirmed
deal, we are making 8 million dollars.
Non recoupable money - that we get
signing money and that we are touring
exclusively... with Mickey Mouse. You
heard it first
Matt: hey, you missed Britney Spears, she
played here like three nights ago
Warren: actually she called us.
Christopher: I really am bummed I missed
that show too.
Warren: the new single is really good!
Really catchy.
Christopher: I heard on the tour one song
is choreographed in a bed with a male
actor and the whole song is done in the
bed.
Erika: that's hot!
Matt: she should just masturbate, she has
a song about masturbating.
Christopher: Britney Spears or Christina
Aguilera?
Warren: I think I step to Usher. I like
the Justin Timberlake album too.
There are some parts that are kinda
*dances* and parts like 'I want you like
a little boy' which are ugh. He’s got his
moments and some good beats.
Matt: who are you looking forward to
touring with?
Warren: I believe after this we are
going to Europe for a little bit. Then I
think we are gonna do a tour with the
BLOOD BROTHERS. (At this point we
all go crazy at the sheer dream of such a
wondrous lineup). They’re all really
great great dudes, a great band.
Matt: do you shave, ever?
Warren: I do every once in a while.
Then it kind of freaks me out and I
don't shave for a while.
Christopher: favorite video game?
Warren: I have to think about that. *he
thinks* NBA Jam. on Sega Genesis.
That era. Big head mode and all that
shit. Definitely a good game.
Erika: we asked this one to Tom and
Andy, are you really an anarchist or just a
spineless liberal?
Warren: I feel like if I were to identify
with anything, I would identify as an
anarchist because I see independence
outside of politics. There is something
between like tolitarianism and
capitalism to like communism of sorts
and whatever else there is, it is a lot
more economic then political. basically
my philosophy is I don't want to step on
anyone’s toes, I don't want anyone to
step on my toes, I want a basic respect
of sorts and I want a bunch of people
who are into like S&M and want to live
together and tie each other up, some
people or into masochism and that's
what there into and it's all consensual,
then that's how they should live their
lives. As long as it's all consensual, then
any animal can interact anyway. Go for
it.
Christopher: going off on that, what about
the man from Germany who had the erotic
ad that said something like looking for
fresh meat to eat and so on. Then when
someone responded, he ate them.
Warren: if I was in either of those roles,
I would want to spend sometime with
that person to make sure that they are
true on their desire to be eaten or to
eat. I would need to have that
established before anything happened.
Christopher: wouldn't you feel kind of
weird, I just had a conversation with that
kid and now he is on my fork!
Warren: well if I really wanted to eat
him, and he wanted to be eaten, I can't
really say. I can't put myself in those
shoes at this junction in my life. I’m
still young so anything can happen.
Warren then went to pack up. So that is
AGAINST ME!, well, almost. In my
conclusion, I just would like to point out
how inspiring AGAINST ME! I have
noticed a decline in true emotion in much
of recorded music that is released today. I
can't say that about this band. go listen to
Crime As Forgiven By... or Reinventing
Al Rose. "Those Damn Anarcho Punks
Are Mysterious" still brings tears to my
eyes, while some friends feel the same
about “Politics of Starving”. in the end,
stand up. do what you think is right, no
matter what it is. turn off the fuckin TV,
get outside and make your voice heard.
vote. protest. sing. dance. scream. play
music. fight every fight like you can win.
whatever it takes. we live in a democracy
and that means taking an active role in it.
"and we rock, cuz it's us against them. we
found our own reasons to sing. and it's so
much less confusing when lines are drawn
like that. where people are either
consumers or revolutionaries, enemies or
friends hanging on to the cogs of the
system. it's all about knowing where
everyone stands. all of a sudden, people
started talking about guns, started talking
like their going to war. as if they found
something to die for"
- Christopher Gilroy
Live show reviews
Against Me!, Blood Brothers,
True North
The ICC, Allston MA
October 22nd 2004
So one thing I have learned is never trust
a website. According to the AGAINST
ME site, the doors opened at 730. Erika
and i got there around 700, to find out
that BLOOD BROTHERS had one last
song. They played tight, producing their
usual sound. I caught wind from friends
who were there, who said TRUE
NORTH was really uninteresting, and
the rest of the BLOOD BROTHERS was
really good. A lot of material off their
new record. AGAINST ME! got on
soon, and rocked soooo hard. They are
amazing live. Sadly, the stage at this
community center was really short, so
everyone kept jumping on stage, which
made it really hard to see the band. They
rocked mostly songs from Eternal
Cowboy, their new one, and dropped
some tracks from Reinventing Axl Rose.
Over all, the show was amazing.
AGAINST ME! shows are like big punk
rock sing a longs, full of fists pumping
into the hot, sweaty air, lungs bleating,
hopes araising up, and fun for everyone
in attendance. Gilroy
(See interviews and additional photos in
this issue. Ed.)
New CD Coming in
2005
And a Deluxe DVD
featuring songs
from all of
Bloody Mess’s
Bands
ALL THAT REMAINS / GWAR /
DYING FETUS
The Palladium Worcester MA
October 29th 2004
Well the Mock The Vote tour hit town
and began with a new exciting brand of
metal called ALL THAT REMAINS
supporting the release of “This Darkened
Heart”. Lead singer Phil Labonte worked
the early crowd as well as possible and
the music kind of reminded me of Life
Of Agony at times. All That Remains
contributed their track “The Deepest
Grey” to "MTV2 Headbangers Ball,
Volume 2". They also will be shooting a
new video for the title track “This
Darkened Heart” soon. After a quick set
and break came a thud known as DYING
FETUS. Maybe it was just wanting to
see GWAR. Regardless I was not
impressed. This brand of extreme metal
was not very good live and is
questionable on disc for that matter.
Then it’s total insanity known as
GWAR. As expected GWAR was
amazing and they even ripped apart
George Bush and Osama Bin Laden on
stage, along with their usual assortment
of gigantic penises and plenty of colored
liquids. The best GWAR shows are the
all ages ones. Why? Because you get to
see parents chasing around looking to get
their kids while they get coated with
paint. Well not this night. GWAR
continues to be one of metals most
entertaining live acts because you don’t
need to like metal to have a blast at their
shows. If you haven’t seen GWAR you
need to. Just prepare to get wet! KZJR
ST LOUIS FIELD TRIP
So We flew outta Bahston to escape the
beginning of the dread Democratic
National Convention. The planes were
full but we were screened less than ever
before and on to our hotel near the St.
Louis airport. We got a warning from
hotel personnel in the hall, about our Frat
Boys neighbors hazing one of their own.
The Frat Boy alleged to be crying in the
room next door. We didn't hear any
crying, just some loud talk about peanut
butter and oatmeal, so we figured, don't
ask, don't tell
Bloody and the Transfusions
NMFP / Aces and Eights
INFIERNO, St. Louis, MO
July 24, 2004
Infierno is a Mexican restaurant/bar
downtown. We got there early to grab a
table, and the wildness began. First of
the 3 bands was Aces and Eights, who
did loud/fast/intentionally minimal
versions of songs like "Country Roads "
(John Denver) and " Runaround Sue"
(Buddy Holly ). Incidentally, Aces and
Eights is the poker hand outlaw ? was
holding when he got shot; ever since, it's
been known as "The Dead Man's Hand."
Their fast and dirty renditions were like
Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies,
minus the umbrella drinks and Hawaiian
shirts, plus some of the talent. Next up
was NMFP - No Mother Fuckin Plan, a
focusing on The Singer and The Guitar
Player. The singer had energy attitude to
spare as he raged through numbers like
"I Got A Bad Reputation (For Fucking
You)" and "Bloody Love," wherein he
gallantly tells a woman he doesn't care if
she's "on the rag." How sweet. His
angular postures and physique reminded
me of Johnny Winters, making me think
he might profit from playing up a
biker/blues image and wear lots of rings
or something…. He was later seen sitting
with the guy I explained the Zen of the
bathroom signs to - he waved, singer
scowled. Then Bloody Mess took the
stage and took control. The Transfusions
has a new guitar player since we saw
him last, and Dave is awesome. Billy's
still on drums, and the irrepressible
Lincoln on bass, at times wearing a
lovely purple satin brassiere. Bloody
only asked for drugs twice - from the
stage, anyway. Mr. Void, the punk
fashion plate of Peoria, lent his vocals to
several numbers to help Bloody out that's the kind of guy he is. They pulled
off an awesome set of Bloody classics,
new tunes and covers of songs that are
punk classics from The Dead Boys and
Iggy & The Stooges to Nancy Sinatra.
The set ended with “Empty” and Bloody
looked exhausted. Can’t wait to hear the
upcoming CD from Bloody & The
Transfusions. These guys rock! KH
Disney’s BEAUTY & THE BEAST
North Shore Music Theater
Beverly MA July 21, 2004
Beauty is only skin deep... a lesson of
the depth of true love and its insecurities.
The NSMT/Disney performance of "B
and the B" definitely achieves great
success with this story of blind love.
The stage is sets in 19th century
England, both city and countryside. The
backdrops are designed so well that the
audience feels as if they were being
followed by the creatures in the deep
woods, and also dancing with the Beast
in his lonely countryside mansion.
Kudos to the costume designers amongst the characters are a 'living'
teapot and kettle, a walking grandfather
clock, and human bureau. Both children
and adults will be delighted by the
Disney score and theatrical performance
of this classic legend. Mike Santoro /
Donna Prevett
The Explosion /Tiger Army
Social Distortion
Lupo’s, Providence, RI
Oct 23, 2004
If you were a little known opening band
trying to get a crowd stirred up, what
would you do? Insist on giving props to
crowd favorite Social D? Scream about
how the Red Sox are going to beat the
Yankees and win the World Series?
Bring “stripped down, no frills, rock
your brain out of your head, punk rock
that doesn’t stop” mentality? The
Explosion did all these things correctly
in a short set that will make me
remember lead singer Million Dollar
Matt and his tight ensemble of punk
fury. Fresh off of a stint from Conan
O’Brien, the band from Boston had a
legion of friends and fans that traveled to
Providence to support the band. You
don’t usually find the mosh pit until
11:00 or so in these parts, but The
Explosion used its tireless energy to get
the crowd to sing along and mosh…all
before 7:30. Relying heavily on music
from the album “Flash, Flash, Flash,”
and the new “Black Tape,” the
Explosion blended just enough catchy
choruses with punk anarchy to win over
a whole legion of fans. Songs such as
“God Bless The SOS,” “Filthy Insane,”
and the radio smash, “Here I Am,”
proved that the Explosion have the right
to be on the same stage as legendary
Social D. Finishing off the set with the
blistering sing-along, “No Revolution,”
left everyone in the crowd sweating and
smiling from ear to ear. The Explosion
blew up Lupo’s this evening, and left the
crowd wanting more. (Interview next
issue). Tiger Army followed The
Explosion to a mixed crowd reaction.
The California trio featured a high
energy lead singer, as well as a stand up
bass. The only time the crowd got into it
was when the band tore into a cover of
local favorites, The Amazing Royal
Crowns. What a lame crowd. Social
Distortion, as expected, brought down
the house. Mike Ness ripped into old
favorites, and played many from the new
album, "Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll.
The sweaty crowd sang along to "Ball
and Chain," "Story of my Life," and
"Mommies Little Monster" as well as the
Johnny Cash cover, "Ring of Fire." After
25 years together, they continue to be a
band that has helped define and redefine
punk music. Social D pit familiar guitar
sound, Ness' gritty vocals and heart,
while writing literate songs that made
many in the Providence crowd
mosh...but also made some of them cry.
That's something to be said of the power
Social D still wields in the world of
music. Dave Afflick
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The Hives / Sahara Hotnights
Avalon, Boston MA
July 23, 2004
Forty-five minutes was all it took for
renowned live act the Hives to leave a
lasting impression on a Boston audience.
In a nutshell: They came, they saw, they
conquered, playing a frenetic, hardcharging set in less time than it took
some concert-goers to find a parking
spot near the storied Fenway club. Fans
familiar with the band knew what to
expect: a blend of searing punk rock
straight out of your next door neighbor’s
garage. This writer, meanwhile, had little
hint what was in store, other than seeing
a recent SPIN Magazine cover article
proclaiming the Swedish quartet the
world’s No. 1 Live Band. That’s a
debate for another time, but let it be told
that if you thirst for punk rock, loud
guitars and bone-shaking music then the
Hives is a band for you. Touring in
support of their new album –
Tyrannosaurus Hives, released just days
before the Boston gig – the Hives tore
through their miniature-sized set list. It
was numbers like “Main Offender” and
“Hate to Say I Told You So,” that built
up a huge statement on this night.
Delivered by frontman Pelle Almqvist,
the two songs, clocking in at just under
three minutes each, were raw and
impassioned, the kind of sound that drips
punk rock. There were other highlights
on the night, including the bands
radiating attire, which was mimicked by
some of the college-aged audience
members. Yet it was the music that
spoke volumes: 45 minutes of hardcharging punk rock! Hallelujah!
Kicking the night off was another band
from Sweden, the female-only Sahara
Hotnights. These gals, too, play a brand
of gritty punk, but unlike their
countrymen they bring a little more
melody and pop to the mix. These ladies
are beginning to attract more of the
following, with little wonder: the fact
that they’re pleasing to both the ears and
eyes is surely an added bonus. Uncle
Richie
KMFDM and DJ ? Acucrack
The Middle East Cambridge MA
November 1st 2004
On the eve of Election 2004 in the
basement of this Cambridge landmark
restaurant / nightclub the bass and beat
were hard all night. We entered during
the set by locals DJ ? Acucrack were
doing their thing. The stage had a
projection screen behind the dual DJs
that had some images but mostly colorful
light pulses. Each DJ had an Apple
laptop open and it was kind of a
commercial for them as the logo was in
view from anywhere. They also had
turntables that were not as easily seen.
For fans of bass and drum techno dance
trance this duo delivered. For me after
about 15 minutes I was checking out the
T-shirt stand with all the cool KMFDM
merchandise as the beat vibrated through
me. After a brief intermission in which
we met up with a few friends, we headed
to the front of the stage and didn’t wait
long. The music began and finally
Sascha Konietzko came out and the 2004
edition of KMFDM unfolded. I have
seen them many times from the early
days with 2 man front of Sascha and his
countryman En Esch, the addition of PIG
aka Raymond Watts, and the short lived
post Columbine MDFMK. The current
line up is a lot like the original except
you get in place of the tall boney figure
of En Esch you get the petite pure sex of
model/singer Lucia (who currently has
her own solo album after she fronted the
band Drill) and Sacha doing the lead
vocals. Lucia’s role has expanded from
the MDKMK days and earlier when she
replaced the dancer/vocalists they had in
the past. KMFDM was doing it again
this night. They played a variety of new
and classics like A Drug Against War,
More and Faster, and Rip The System.
The audience knew the drill and chanted
KMFDM Sucks to get them to come out
for an encore that we all hoped would
include Jezebel but we still were not
disappointed. Forget NIN with trent’s
constant stage posing and the other so
called pioneers of Industrial music
KMFDM is still the best of them all.
Trust Me! FYI- their newest CD is a live
one that has a good deal of what was
played at this performance. check it out.
Dickie Boston
Hot Water Music / Alexis on Fire
Middle East Downstairs, Cambridge,
MA Nov 13th 2004
I show up at The Middle East downstairs
midway through an afternoon,
adolescent punkfest. I push my way
through the sea of pubescence and head
straight for the bar and order a Guinness.
Alexis on Fire is warming up their
gear...pun intended. Not long after they
hit the stage with lots of screamo-angst
and high energy. They are pretty intense
and although not my cup of tea
musically, they put on a good show. The
crowd really seems to be into them. Lots
of flying hands in sync with anthemic
screaming. After about an hour of this,
it's Hot Water Music's turn. The grizzled
foursome take the stage looking
hungover yet eager to play. After all,
these fellas sing about Jameson
hangovers and empty bottles, my kind of
band. They deliver their melodic 21st
century punk rock with no holds barred.
The PA is so loud that every time the
drummer hits the bass drum I fear I
might shit myself. HWM plays some of
their new record "The New What Next."
They seem to play their newer songs
with more conviction and excitement.
The band is incredibly tight and the bassplaying is downright nasty. The Guitar
harmonies are shimmering. The
Drumming is loud and metronomic. All
and all a great performance by the boys
from Tallahassee, FL. - Ed Thill
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JET / Sloan / The Everyones
Lupo’s at the Strand Providence RI
July 12th, 2004.
We arrived at the renovated Strand
Theatre now called Lupo’s at the Strand
just before Sloan got off the stage and
the other opening band, “ The
Everyones” took the stage. The
Everyones are another Aussie band that
Jet took with them on this tour. They are
still on the up and coming track but
WILL be in the foreground very soon for
The Everyone’s are really making their
mark here in the US. They don’t sound
like Jet and definitely have their own
sound which is very important
nowadays. They have a little Weezer
sound in them but are a little more poppy
& trippy than the boys with the thick
glasses. They played songs from their
2003 album like, “Green Cats Eye” and
“Pocket” which seemed to catch the
attention of the teenie boppers hanging
around. Once they finished the majority
of people were already waiting for Jet to
do their thing.
Jet is an Aussie 4 piece band with one
mission in mind: To save Rock and Roll!
They brought back the good ol’ E chord
riffs of bands like ACDC and have
turned things upside down. The band’s
punching guitar riffs & screaming lyrics
are not too innovative but that still hasn’t
stopped them from selling a million
records and starting many mosh pits of
teens that never even heard of ACDC. Its
funny how many different genres of
bands can go away for years and come
back regurgitated and it’s like a new
music revolution to the kids. They did a
great job at electrifying the crowd at the
Strand but still remain as a band trying to
get their piece of the pie in today’s music
biz. Jet made us listen to some of their
new pieces which were tolerable and
made everyone wait until the end of the
night to rock us with their Nissan
commercialized tunes like,
“Do you want to be my girl” & Cold
Hearted Bitch”. The place was filled
with parents and young teens so we felt a
little out of place but was good to see the
parents banging their heads to the
favorite riffs of their time. A good time
was had by all…..Franky
naked and was a danger vto his audience.
Highlights of the set were Hangin Out
With Jim, Outlaw Scumfuc and Expose
Yourself To Kids (which was a horrific
sing along with a good deal of the most
pit that had grown to 20 something). A
very aggressive sound and delivery The
Murder Junkies are not for the sqeamish.
Merle Allin has done his brother proud.
If you are a fan of GG and were not there
You missed it Buddy!
-Dicky Boston
MURDER JUNKIES /
THE JABBERS
June 28th 2004 The Middle East,
Cambridge MA
Billed as the 11th anniversary of GG
Allin’s death and it truly was. I arrived
alone just as The Jabbers (GG’s band
back in the late 70’s to mid 80’s ) were
about to play. It was only fitting to have
the show in the upstairs room of The
Middle East. Back in day when GG was
incarcerated (1986 or 87 I think) Merle
(Allin, that is) organised and played a
tribute fund raiser for legal fees covering
GG’s tunes at the same place. Back then
it was the only stage in the
restaurant/club. Anyway I arrived at that
show late with a date (who I encouraged
not to come along) and only caught
Merle singing one song. He then asked
the audience if anybody wanted to sing.
2 guys jumped at the chance. Then they
grab the microphones and drop trou. One
of the guys had a huge schlong and was
playing with it the other guy just sang
with it hanging out. My date began
begging me to leave. Now the owner
sees this and is not upset, a few seconds
later when they both bounced the
microphones on the stage he runs up and
shuts the show down as they were house
equipment. Back to 2004 and it’s now
the upstairs stage The Jabber start the
show with guitarist Chris “Chaos” Lamy
shouting “We’re The Jabbers and this is
punk rock” They went right into Drink
Fight and Fuck (a favorite of mine) and
it immediately reminded me of what
attracted me to GG and The Jabbers back
in the day. Kind of a mix of The
Ramones and MC5 musically if you will.
Next they did Suckerpunch which is off
their new solo CD. I had caught them in
Providence at the first show they
reformed at and they were 100% tighter
on this night. Wimpy has got his own
style that fits the music in a way much
safer than when GG did it. The thing is it
was unsafe for GG, back when he played
with The Jabbers he did not attack his
audiences, they attacked him. The crowd
did a sing along when they played Bite It
You Scum. Wimpy barked at the fans I
don’t like you people in the back urging
fans to come closer beaking into You
Hate Me And I Hate You. GG was right,
Boston was and still is lame. When thses
bands play the midwest its a larger room
and a huge pit. A pit of a dozen was all
you had here, the majority of those
assembled stood back and watched.
Regardless everyone enjoyed the set. I
spoke with Chaos after and he mentioned
how great it was to again play together
with Merle and The Murder Junkies for
the anniversary dates in the northeast. It
truly is a taste of GG’s legacy with The
Jabber representing his music up to 89
and The Murder Junkies from there to
the end.
That being said out comes The Junkies
with singer fresh out of Rikers and
Drummer who wears a Gacy like clown
make-up and nude except his sneakers.
This quickly established the spirit of the
latter years when GG would perform
NINE
North Shore Music Theater, Beverly
MA
August 27th 2004
The buzz was that Robert Newman was
starring in this NSMT presentation of the
Tony Award Winner NINE. Yes the guy
from TV’s The Guiding Light While
Robert and his all female cast (except
John-Michael Breen who played Guido
as a boy of nine). The play itself
probably got the Tony award with
performances that featured real nudity in
the shower scene as the story is
extremely stupid and offensive. The play
set in the early 1960’s is about Guido
Contini who is a mirror of Fellini the
Italian movie director. Guido gets his 1st
heterosexual experience at age 9 and we
are all to accept it is not child
molestation because he’s Italian. Ok
Ladies book your flight to Italy it’s not
immoral anymore. What’s the age for the
women? Like I said offensive. But then
it points out that his sexual past is the
cause of his infidelity and going from
many women to being alone. The
opening song was one word “La” repeat
it 1000 or so times. The cast featured
many talented and beautiful young
women including the hot and sexy
Milena Govic who played Guido’s lover
Carla (who was in the aforementioned
shower scene and it was still very hot)
They also had a song that called Guido at
Rap-Scallion which I guess is better than
Rat Bastard. Anyhow Guido looks to
save his marriage by going to a Venetian
vacation spa with his wife for holiday.
Meanwhile his movie sponsor Lillian La
Fleur is looking to find him and begin
filming or cut his nuts off if he doesn’t.
Guido’s problems are he has no script
and his lover is in Venice at another
hotel. The first act left me confused as
the performances were great. My
favorite moment was when Milena said
she liked the name Ken and gave us a
“ooooh Ken”. I thought how old Zeb
would have liked that. I paticularily
liked the role of the critic Stephanie
Necrophorus played supurbly by
Charlotte Cohn. Her criticism of Contini
could easily point at this musicals
shortcomings in almost a self critique. It
kept me there. It took only the first song
of the second act “A Man like You” to
make the rest of the performance
unendurable. That was as awful as the
subsequent debris “Getting Tall” or the
first acts biggest drag, the title song.
Hard to pick which was the most
excruciating part. Sheer agony in motion
on stage. Like poetry in motion but
horrible. Then near the end they hinted at
a shock ending of Contini committing
suicide, but they go the safe boring
route. I’d give 9 a three at best. A good
musical has its audience singing as they
exit. There is no song you’ll come away
humming or singing with NINE. The
selling point is the sexy cast on this not
recommended for kids performance. Not
a bad night out but nothing special
either. DB
Projekt Revolution Tour
Tweeter Center Mansfield MA
July 29th 2004
What can I say this concert had a great
line up on both stages. The Projekt stage
had all the up and comers on it. The
Revolution stage had all the big names
on it. I caught two great acts that stood
out to me on the projekt stage. Ghostface
Killah of the Wu-Tang Clan, I had no
idea he was on the bill and was
pleasantly surprised to see him there. He
put on a hell of a show playing some old
school joints and some new school.
The other group that caught my eye
didn't sound exactly like the other groups
on the stage. Funeral For A Friend, led
by 2 Davies brothers (not The Kinks)
Their sound is something I've been
waiting to hear now for awhile since I
got an advance copy of Casually
Dressed & Deep In Conversation. They
put on a great show getting all the fans in
the crowd to go nuts starting a big mosh
pit, it was great. Lead guitarist Kris
Roberts was unbelievable just whaling
on those chords and Matt Davies vocals
were great, I could actually understand
what he was saying.They made my
afternnoon playing my two favorite
songs Juneau and Rookie Of The Year.
Two great songs to keep replaying if you
have the CD. Now on to the Revolution
stage where Snoop Dog and Korn almost
caused one. I know Linkin Park
(pictured above) is the head liner but
Snoop and Korn blew them away. Snoop
just hit the stage hard with his posse of
Kurupt and Warren G. Sorry to report
everyone, Bishop Don Juan was not with
Snoop. Still he played all the old school
favorites. Gin and Juice, Ain't Nothing
But a G Thang, What’s My Name. Plus
the new school joints Beautiful and
P.I.M.P.. He got the crowd into it by
telling everyone “ just trow your hands
in the air and wave'm like You just don't
care” Then he sparked a Fatty onstage
and everyone went nuts,...a lot of weed
smoking was going down there that night
that at least I saw it that way .After
Snoop came KORN,…
Unbelievable. Jonathan Davis came out
rocking his leather kilt. They played a
dynamite set of some old and new stuff
which after seeing them a few times I
have come to expect. What surprised me
and made the concert unforgettable is
when they played covers of Metallica's
One then they Did Pink Floyd's Another
Brick In The Wall and that song sent the
crowd into madness. For The wall they
had the words broadcasted on to the big
screens so the whole crowd could sing
along. It was phenomenal. That’s how
Korn ended their set. F**kin Awesome!
Then on came Linkin Park and sorry to
say they were kind of lame after catching
the previous 2 killer sets. I like them but
the old saying “tough act to follow”
rang true,... After I caught the first few
songs I left to beat the Traffic KZ Jr.
Chris Robinson and
The New Earth Mud
The Paradise, Boston MA
June 26, 2004
Chris Robinson left the Black Crowes
more than a year ago, but the sound
remained the same in an early-summer
performance at the Paradise. Raw and
rootsy in the past, Robinson was just that
in the present, giving a performance that
was one-part Allman Brothers, one-part
Grateful Dead and 100-percent Rock and
Roll. The 11-song set, in front of a soldout audience, stretched close to two
hours. From start to finish the crowd –
and Robinson – were grooving to some
exquisitely played Southern Rock,
played in the finest jam-band style.
Robinson and bandmates kicked things
off with the funky “Boney Maroney.”
They stretched the set list out, working
into a jam, on such numbers as “Lazy
Day,” “Girl on the Mountain,” and “40
Days.” Some of the loudest applause of
the night was drawn for a soulful
performance of “Shape I’m In,” – a song
best played by The Band in the mid-70s.
“Sunday Sound” and “Hot Buttered
Biscuit Jam” were crowd pleasing, both
featuring plenty of guitar and funk. The
final song of the night, “Deal,” brought
the evening to a close with some fine
harmony and guitar work. For Mr. Kate
Hudson, it was an excellent showing by
his new band. Yet, rumor has it that he
scrapped the rest of his solo tour,
planned for the fall, and may again join
up with younger brother, Rich, reforming the Crowes for another goaround. Regardless of who he decides to
play with, Robinson has the formula for
making great music down to a science.
Uncle Richie
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things up all this excitement had to end
sometime. Before I knew it, it was time
to go home. Both my friend and I were
humming the tunes and wanting the
majority of the performance. Now it was
over, we went home satisfied not having
worry about any messages and just enjoy
the unadulterated fun of SWING! AING
RUTH RUTH
TT The Bear’s, Cambridge, MA
June 18th 2004
I wish I could even remember who else
was on the bill. I could not give a honest
review anyway as I played pool in the
back room after interviewing Ruth Ruth
(next issue). So suffice it to say nothing
drew me into the stage area that I heard
but nothing was dreadful either. NY
Garagepop legends Ruth Rutht has
played here more than once. For those
who have not been, the club is in 3 small
parts all connected on one floor. The
main room where the stage is, the oval
horseshoe bar has the stage room side
and other side where the bands sell CD’s
and Shirts on tables against the wall
facing the bar, and the aforementioned
back room that hold 2 pool tables. A nice
place to catch local music or just hang
out. Located around the corner from the
larger and more famous Middle East.
The lighting is minimal so I asked the
band if I could use a flash beforehand.
Guitarist Mike Lustig still got pissed off
(or he was bustin my balls) when I got a
pic of him. He bellowed “Who’s the
idiot with the flash”. As a courtesy I
shot all pics before the end of the first
song. Playing a combination of tunes
from the new self produced CD and
selections from thier catalog of Major
label releases made a 40+ minute span of
time fly by. The crowd was very
receptive to Chris Kennedy’s vocals and
his very upbeat brand of rock and roll.
How could you not enjoy hearing Every
Time We Go To Bed , Electric or the
song they played for me, Jerome. A
great set to be sure, look for them to
return for another show as the CD will
be out by the time this issue hits the
street. A great live band that won me
over years ago that might be worth you
keeping tabs on! So check the web at
www.ruthruth.com for tour dates. DB
SWING!
North Shore Musical Theater
September 22, 2004
Swing! Soared into the North Shore
Music Theater in its recent run from
September 21 to October 10, was a burst
of energy and fun! This musical unlike
others, had no story line to impart, no
original characters or original music but
instead infused the audience to want to
tap their toes and join the dancers! The
cast consisted of 14 "Rug Cutters" or
dancers further divided up into couples
for various genres. Period dances
stemming mainly from the 1940's, a time
when swing music and dance pervaded
all dance floors, to demonstrate dances
such as the jitterbug, the Lindy, Country
& Western line dancing and the mambo.
The rush of movement of these dances
are alongside the live band and recorded
classics such as "Cry Me a River," "In
the Mood", to "Boogie Woogie Bugle
Boy" caused me to constantly tap my
toes to the rhythm. Everett Bradley, a
member of the original Broadway cast,
brings forth his unique personality that
epitomizes the spirit of SWING!. The
NST cast members includes a hodge
podge of veterans of NST shows,
professional ballroom dancers and titleholders. I particularly enjoyed the Latin
Couple-Anya and Benito Garcia. Anya
(current U.S. Salsa champion) slithered
in her slinky and sexy dresses to ooze of
sensuality and spice. I enjoyed watching
her every time she was on stage. Other
cast members, clad in colorful clothing
ranging from country to 1940's armed
men and women, zoot suits, to dance
contestants in goofy costumes were fun
to watch. The dance pieces throughout
the musical are good representations of
choreography of the social dances of the
time. This includes the awesome flipping
360 degrees, twisting and turning while
jitterbugging is fast-paced and amazing!
Modern club dancing is not as exciting!
The show's two acts are jammed pack
and fun! From doing line dancing, to
club dancing, to a fun dance competition
highlighted by the comic pair hamming
THORNLEY
Lupo’s at the Strand
Providence, RI June 15, 2004
Thornley has the songs, the big licks,
and a lead singer, Ian Thornley, with
massive pipes in the styling of Chris
Cornell. Unfortunately, the crowd was
not prepared for such an act, as their 30
minute set ripped through Lupo’s, with
little fanfare.
Thornley is led by vocalist/guitarist Ian
Thornley, of the successful Boston
alternative outfit Big Wreck. Any of you
remember the hit “Oaf (My luck is
wasted)? After the Wreck's 2002
retirement, Thornley returned to his
native Toronto and began writing solo
material. By late 2003, the singer was
back in the studio, working with
producer Gavin Brown (Three Days
Grace), drummer Sekou Lumumba,
bassist Ken Tizzard, and guitarist Tavis
Stanley. They released their debut album
in May 2004, entitled “Come Again.” A
short instrumental started the evening
and Thornley opened with the song,
“Easy Comes” a melodic tune tinged
with psychedelia. “Falling to Pieces,”
ensued with a melodic post-grunge feel,
focused on Ian’s screaming vocals. The
song engaged the crowd with its
unforgiving energy. “Found Another
Way" and “Keep a Good Man Down”
kept the vigor of the set alive. The
infamous double guitar (you know, the
kind made famous by Cheap Trick)
made a revival for “It All Comes Out in
the Wash,” and a guitar solo. The set
finished in powerful fashion with the
unrelenting “Come Again,” and the radio
single, “So Far, So Good.” I was hoping
for a couple Big Wreck songs as an
encore, as they had done in prior shows,
but apparently, Thornley was not feeling
the Providence crowd…I don’t blame
them, the crowd was weak. Thornley has
the voice, the chops, and the energy to
make it nationally. They might have
even convinced me to buy their CD. The
night also included the bands
Incantation, and the popular Three Days
Grace. - Dave Afflick
Before the final song I Love Chaos Dez
said to the crowd how after the set they
would go meet fans and autograph
everything , then off to the Jagermeister
booth to get fucked up with everybody.
Succeeding them was GOD FORBID
After that was EVERY TIME I DIE
gave a solid set of their southern rock
metal. Keith Buckly vocals along with
the double guitars made for a decent set.
OZZFEST 2004
Tweeter Center Mansfield MA
July 12th 2004
Entered in time to catch Las Vegas’s
MAGNA FI play a decent style of pop
who wowed the crowd with
Antifuckinliterate and Broken Promise
and the crowd chanted along. Vocalist
Byron Davis is quite an imposing figure
onstage. They played from all 3 albums
favoring this years Gone Forever. Next
up were local favorites UNEARTH
metal. Brothers CJ (guitar) and Mike
(vocals) Szuter give us a Cheap Trick
meets Alice In Chains kind of sound that
was I guess the calm before the storm of
heavy music to follow. It was right back
into the darkness that played earlier that
I heard from the will call area waiting to
get in. ( ATREYU, DARKEST HOUR
and THROWDOWN). That being the
whole hail satan thing this and other
metal festivals pride themselves on I find
wearisome.
DEVILDRIVER came out next and the
mosh circle was moving as metal and
Ozzfest veteran Dez Fafara (Coal
Chamber vocalist) is a great performer
who instigated the willing crowd..
who spun their guitars around as other
band spin their hair. More of a hip hop
metal style than anyone else on the bill
yet I would not say that is their style.
Nonstop movement onstage as they
blasted out great tunes like The Great
Dividers and their final song 1 Step
Away. Checking out these tunes and
more off their debut CD on Metal Blade.
Nice set!
Then it was the feminine stars of today’s
metal. First was OTEP and if you could
not see the stage Otep’s voice was a
groveling as Slipknot so it’s not lilith fair
stuff. Her leg had HATE written on it
with a Sharpie. With a pig’s head on a
microphone stand and she voiced her
opposition to Bush and rocked the
crowd. Lee Rios’ guitar and the
pounding bass by eVIL insure the
heaviest metal music for Otep’s poetic
lyrics.
Right behind them was Italy’s LACUNA
COIL who feature dual vocals by the
lovely Cristina Scabbia and her male
counterpart Andrea Ferro . They offered
a more of a Gothic Metal meets Wisbone
Ash and were the surprising treat for me.
I really dug The Ghost Woman and The
Hunter. I need to check their CD‘s out
as I haven’t yet. Metal anthems mixing
rock with a more classical style than the
rest of stage 2 more extreme to black
metal offerings.
Next up was the Cali hardcore-metal
boys BLEEDING THROUGH who
performed Revenge I Seek,and Rise
amongst others. Kind of like Avenged
Sevenfold but not really as they both mix
punk and metal a different way that is
not quite as dark.
Then it was time for brutality LAMB OF
GOD hit the stage and had the crowd
moshing and moving . Randy Blythe
who acted like Captain Bligh as he
instigated hard contact in the mosh pits.
After a solid rendidtion of As The
Crosses Burn and a song off the yet to be
released CD Captain Blythe had the
audience split like the red sea to create a
Wall Of Death. For those who have not
seen this before, what it looks like is
Braveheart. Two sides of a crowd
running at each other smashing into each
other violently. Amazing! Hell yeah the
EMT’s love the extra work. All day at
the second stage those who were crowd
surfing kept coming over the barrier into
the arms of security. Some of course get
thru that just drop or get dropped. One
woman who went over a few times
landed hard on one of her trips, then got
up and pushed then slapped the security
guard, classic!
HATEBREED played a brutal set that
included Perseverance, Betrayed By
Life, Live For This and Before Desire.
Next up was the highly anticipated
SLIPKNOT and they did not disappoint.
The new masks along with their stage
movement and blasphemous lyrics had
the audience in awe. Even if you hate
them you would have to admit they have
a impressive stage show. They blasted a
set mostly of Vol 3: The Subliminal
Verses and the assembled fans went wild
as they absolutely rocked the second
stage to a fantastic close.
Opening up the main stage is a tough
draw as so many with reserved seats stay
in the parking lot or just arrive late. They
missed a scorching set of metal guitar
from Zakk Wylde and his BLACK
LABEL SOCIETY.
As you know Zakk is Ozzy’s guitarist
but with Sabbath playing later his ax was
not needed later. They played a mix from
the first 4 albums and the latest
Hangover Music Vol VI. The lower
arena started filling up as the very un PC
SUPERJOINT RITUAL hit the main
stage. Vocalist Philip Anselmo donned
Charlie Manson’s face on his back. This
band from Texas reminded me of Merle
Allin’s Murder Junkies with more of a
Aryan flair. They feature C&W Star
Hank Williams III on bass. Hate sells,
speaking of hate after SJR it was time for
the Black Metal from Norway’s
DIMMU BORGIR as they continue the
climb to Baphomet’s Throne. I was
supposed to interview them but as the
one of the tour people told me that the
road manager calls nobody back (and
that was who I had to call to set it up).
They were right. Regardless when they
hit the lights on the band banner onstage
the crowd roared in anticipation. The
band played and another roar as vocalist
Shagrath came out . The tortured souls of
black metaldom bathed in the glory of
relentless brutality on this abbreviated
set of blasphemy. All the bands were
limited to 35 or so minutes all day and
the next band SLAYER
was an exception playing about 45 or so
of their metal classics in support of the
upcoming boxed set. I couldn’t wait for
it to end. Next was the longest set of the
night by recently reformed JUDAS
PRIEST. Rob Halford was on. His voice
was as solid as it ever was and the band
played all the hits of the 80’s that were
loved by more than Beavis and Butthead.
I was never a fan of them and I was
surprised how many of their songs I
knew and rocked to with them. They are
working on a new album too. Without a
doubt the highlight of the main stage.
Breakin the law, breakin the law ohhh
yeah. Then it was OZZY and BLACK
SABBATH. Caught a few songs then
bailed. Ozzy rocked and with a
scheduled 50 minute set his voice held
up throughout as opposed to the years
where he sang in both Sabbath band his
band in 2 sets. (I was told by friends who
stayed) Ozzfest 2004 showed a stronger
presence of extreme metal than in past
years and has grown to more accepted
status in metal and less of the hip-hop
metal that was very big 2-3 years ago.
Can’t wait to hear next year’s line-up!
Dickie Boston
WARPED TOUR 2004
Gilettte Stadium Parking Lot,
Foxboro MA
August 19th and 20th 2004
One all day event (or 2 if you did both)
non-stop punk, ska, emo, hip-hop and
much more all jammed pack into one
place, Foxboro stadium parking lot.
Bands like Anti Flag, Bouncing Souls,
Tiger Army, Story of the Year, The
Casualties and many more. The long
lines where no real deterrent if you got
there early however, many arrived there
at the same time which made the lines go
on for what seemed like forever. Once
inside the common thing was to go over
to the wall of band listings so you know
where to go see your favorite band. Once
that was done go see your favorite band
play. They had to be one of your top
favorite bands for you to go to their
merch booth and buy a t-shirt with a lil
logo on it.
Casualties play due to the overwhelming
stage presence of The Vandals . Next,
The Bouncing Souls put on a crowd
raising show as far as I could tell the
crowd stretched way past the sound
booth for the most part it seemed like
the Bouncing souls were on every body’s
must see list. It was so nice to see
Tiger Army was just amazing when
they went on stage bass player Geoff
Kresge came out sporting his pitch black
stand up bass with green flames going up
it. Geoff slapped it like it was second
nature fast hard and total control.
Later on during the day the Vandals
played a mind blowing set it was nice to
see a band play for whom I have been
listening to for many years. One upset
for me though they did not play Anarchy
Burger but that is fine, cause Oi to the
World made up for it. They were also on
the second day ballet for the tenth
anniversary show.However, I missed the
Anti-Flag come up on stage with War
Machine one of Anti-Flag's anthem
songs. I was able to talk to a few EMT’s
and they where not sure on the exact
numbers but they said about 12 kids an
hour would show up to the med center
for treatment of heat exhaustion. Of
course like normal food and drink there
is expensive so next year eat some food
in the line cause you won’t be able to
bring it in. Overall it is a day to be had at
Warped Tour the only place you can go
to see all your favorite bands play in one
place. Pirate Zim
WARPED TOUR 2004
Gillette Stadium Parking Lot
Foxboro, MA 8-19-2004
Lots of things to point out that was
different from preshow information once
you got there. 1) there was plenty of free
parking! 2) It didn’t rain 3) the band line
up was different and that proved to be
both good and bad depending on who
you wanted to see. 4) If you did not like
punk rock there was plenty to do. As in
past years one thing remained true, if
you wanted to catch the beginning of the
show you had to buy a ticket. Press
began entering about 12-1 or later
depending on the entrance you picked,
some were set up others not so much.
I got to the main stage area where the
two stages are called TEAL and BRIAN.
At the Teal Fall Out Boy was just
finishing up so I hung out at Brian
waiting for INTERNATIONAL NOISE
CONSPIRACY
then back to the main stage for BILLY
TALENT.
They are such a cool band to see live.
They move around more than Linkin
Park , the instruments are flying around
them at times. Body surfing was running
full tide as they showcased the new CD
Page Avenue.. I split over to Maurice
stage again to catch pop-punkers
Hmmm which one is Billy? They
rocked. I spun by the Kevin Says Stage
to get a bit of THE ERKS and their
brand of 3 piece punk. Soon it was time
for one of my faves, the psycho-billy
punk rockers TIGER ARMY who began
with the band theme/cheer.
ALLISTER who played a few off the
new CD Last Stop Suburbia. Next stop
was Ernie Ball to catch THE SKEPTICS
who began with a high powered sound
and lots of movement on stage wowing
the crowd. I then headed over to the
Maurice stage and caught a little of
WASHINGTON SOCIAL CLUB as I
went to check out Boston’s own PLAN
B on the tiny Ernie Ball stage work a
solid gathering surrounding this area
near the opposite end of the squared off
parking lot from the main stages. On my
way back to the main stage I stopped by
the Code Of The Cutz stage (which was
a all hip-hop stage) and got down with
STARVING ARTISTS CREW . I then
got to the Teal again to catch STORY
OF THE YEAR.
One of the best sets of the day. I ran to
the Maurice stage in time to watch THE
CASUALTIES
for a song and back by the hip-hop stage
to get a little of RHYTHMIC CREW
Guitarist Jake’s hair was in prime
condition. absolutely blowing away that
side of the fairgrounds with the Oihardcore mix of punk. All this while
Tiger Army did the same with their side.
Then I got over to Brian Stage to get
those crazy punk rock veterans
led to a stretcher exit for one fan.
Everything else was heat exhaustion
keeping the EMTs busy.
The Bouncing Souls set was another of
the day’s highlights. Singer Greg
Attonlto and guitarist Pete Steinkopf had
their fans chanting the lyrics throughout
the set.
THE VANDALS blast thru a set of
songs spanning the catalog including the
new CD Hollywood Potato Chip. Dave
Quackenbush begged the kids to make
some noise for them so they wouldn’t
look like pussies. Not a problem
everybody loved Joe Escalante’s bass
driven punk rock with the witty sarcastic
lyrics. Next I took a walk over by the
VOLCOM Stage and caught the classic
jam rock of ROSE HILL DRIVE
the GROOVIE GHOULIES as well as
THE SKULLS on nearby Ernie Ball
stage. Then was the unexpected fun band
before heading to Teal for Pittsburgh
based ANTI-FLAG
and they were on this day. Blasting a
mix of classics with cuts from this year’s
The Terror State. The audience was
going wild with bodies flying over the
barriers keeping security buzy catching
them. As always when theres a lot some
get missed. Somewhere between AntiFlag and BOUNCING SOULS one miss
After that I moved to the tiny Space
Station Stage and caught Oakland CA
natives THE PHENOMENAUTS
who have cool costumes like .. Devo I
guess and a true 60's rock sound like
Robert Gordon used to play. The crazy
lyrics babbling about outer space, let’s
just say it was a blast! This was a cool
stage - I hung out and caught
PUNK ROCK KARAOKE who is Eric
Melvin (NOFX) Greg HERSON (Bad
Religion) Steve Solo (Adolecents) and
Derek O’Brien (Social Distortion)
played the music while audience
members sang the vocals. If you wanted
to sing you got a sheet with available
songs (like a karaoke bar) and picked the
one you wanted to sing. First was this
guy singing Sex Pistols “Bodies” then
this guy singing “Wild In The Streets”
followed by this dude doing his best Lee
Ving impersonation shouting out “I Love
Livin In The City”. Next was this guy
covering The Misfits. Next was the
trombone player from River City Rebels
paying tribute to Jello with “California
Uber Alles” . next was this guy doing
some TSOL, the these two kids sharing
the vocals on The Misfits “Skull” last up
was one of The Teenage Harlots singing
a Descendants song with the drummer
from The Descendants sitting in. The
winner for best vocals was the 2 kids
who had to split the prize - One T- Shirt!
opened the day’s show. One of the
veteran bands from FatWreckChords
playing the classic 90’s punk sound the
label is known for. I then got to the main
stage Teal and it was hip-hop not punk
opening there with LORDZ OF
BROOKLYN who had the crowd
swinging and swaying as they put on a
fantastic stage performance. What James
Brown brought to rock audiences in the
60’s these young brooklyners brought to
this punk audience.
I drifted over to Volcom stage to see MY
CHEMICAL ROMANCE start things
Then I caught a little of Vermont’s
RIVER CITY REBELS who rocked the
Space Station stage with favorites like
“Should Have Been ABORTED”. Old
school punk like The Jabbers did in the
80’s that was worth staying for. . I took
an early exit after that.
WARPED TOUR 10th YEAR
ANNIVERSARY
Gillette Field Foxboro, MA
August 20th 2004
The rumors were going on for months on
who was playing. Well they did not even
have that right on the proposed line up
set since tickets went on sale. NOFX was
not there let alone rumored secret
performances by GREEN DAY or
BLINK 182. that being said what a
GREAT show! The 11 stages set on this
same lot the day before was now 5 with
the Teal, Brian, Maurice,Volcom and
Ernie Ball hosting bands. I spent the day
shuffling between the 5 stages beginning
at the Maurice stage. STRUNG OUT
there. The emo punk sucked the crowd
in. I rushed over to Brian stage to catch
one of punk rock’s real showmen
ANDREW W.K.
As soon as he hit the stage the crowd
went wild. His piano playing grounded
him a bit from jumping all over the
place, but6 not really. Pure fun high
energy set. I ran over to catch FINCH
at Maurice and they were awesome.
I got back to main stage to catch
SICK OF IT ALL cranking out a set of
their best and then over to Volcom to
hear MIDTOWN who I ended up sitting
next to at lunch backstage. I overheard
them discussing their girlfriends, sex and
smoking. Seemed like fun fellers for
sure. I then went to see the RIVER CITY
REBELS at my lone visit to Ernie Ball
stage for the day. They had worked the
crowd so well the day before I had to
check them on a proper stage. They dress
and sound like The Jabbers with a horn
section and really get the crowd going.
Punk rock with Trombone and sax ? You
got to hear them. They also had the
terrycloth shorts for ladies that seemed to
be everywhere with the album title
HATE TO BE LOVED on them along
with band name. I saw fans as well as
different vendors wearing them. Then it
was up to Brian stage to catch punk rock
and warped experienced act
PENNYWISE .
After that I grabbed a bio/food/beverage
break backstage before heading out to
catch NEW FOUND GLORY.
worked they crowd into motion grooving
to the sound. Lower body gyrations and
all that. Then it was over to catch
The crowd had grown from the large
gathering the Dropkick’s had drawn. I
fought my way through it after a few
songs to catch FISHBONE
Singer Jordan Pundik electrified the
crowd with radio favorites like “Truth Of
My Youth” “All Downhill”and “Hit Or
Miss” it was great. Next up was Boston’s
own DROPKICK MURPHY’S
who dedicated their set to the late
Chicken Man. They wowed the crowd
by just coming out. By the time they
played “Tessie” the audience was
energetic to say the least. I loved
“Forever” and who doesn’t love
“Shitfaced” . I got back over to Maurice
to catch a few songs by H2O
then right back to main stage to get to
see the event’s most revered act
RANCID.
UNSEEN at Volcom stage play the old
school oi punk before catching another
set by THE VANDALS.
and was I glad I did. They were solid
musicians playing a unique sound that
combined elements of Island music, jazz,
funk, and adventure. THE black group to
bridge the gap between the funk of
George Clinton and the blare of Rush; a
hybrid fusion where Led Zeppelin and
Sly Stone like a modern day Funkasdelic
trippy island flavoured ska and rock
unique to itself. They won over lots of
kids that day.
I headed back to main stage to catch
OSOMATLI play a lively Latin hip-hop
funky sound complete with solid horn
section, kind of a small army on stage.
Lots of movement and showmanship
After a great set yesterday I was back
begging for more as they did a jukebox
set of tunes and even had a guest on one
cut the bass player from Yellowcard.
Singer Dave Quackenbush dedicated a
song to the guy they shot out of the
cannon. I was so upset that I missed
taking pic of guy blasting out of the
cannon shortly after as I could not
change batteries in time. Gosh darn it!
Once that was done it was NYC hip-hop
stylings of TALIB KWELI over at
Maurice stage. Kweli showcased tracks
from his new CD The Beautiful Struggle.
This was a great show as the mix of
urban music and punk all day was great
so the tour can entertain fans of all
genres of music. Talib closed with a
song that used a soundbite from The
Beatles Eleanor Rigby All The Lonely
People which was awesome hip-hop dub
magic. Then it was time for the poppunk sounds from North Carolina’s
over the barriers crowd surfing. I then
got over to Maurice again
rocked as singer M. Shadows shared the
limelight with the dual guitars of Zacky
Vengeance and Synyster Gates. They
rocked the crowd into a frenzy and
provided metalheads a break from the
punkage. After that intensity it was the
band that the young ladies were waiting
for SOMETHING CORPORATE.
to catch FACE TO FACE a highly
underrated punk band. Next I caught
They were not disappointed as they got a
solid set of mostly new material. NO
SURPRISES REALLY. The main stage
closed with a special unannounced act.
It was PUNK ROCK
KARAOKE
GOOD CHARLOTTE. They seem to
have had most of the young ladies
attention - their.Singer Joel Madson has
quite a different look than he had at 2002
Warped.
who I caught the day before, and as
much as I liked them I split before this
and the other stages closed with
While the look is more metal the music
remains radio ready pop punk rock.
After that came one of the oldfangled
punk rock icon bands, BAD RELIGION.
LESS THAN JAKE as the crowd
chanted LTJ till they started the set.
They had a guy in a skull mask and red
suit dancing on-stage with the band.
They ended the set with him diving into
the audience and crowd surfing to the
delight of the assembled fans. I headed
over to Volcom to catch the top metal act
on the bill AGNOSTIC FRONT and MURPHY’S
LAW, respectively. Wow!. Dickie
Boston
Blau nouveaux
Greg Graffn and company rocked
through a set of classics as kids flew
AVENGED SEVENFOLD who have a
bit of a punk sound at times confusing
some and pleasing many.Today they
Vas is los???
SCUM HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
with the classic Scumrock releases from The King of Scumrock GG ALLIN
ONLINE ORDERING AVAILABLE NOW ON THE COMPLETE CATALOG including
Distributed By:
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3107 North Rockland
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[email protected]
The Girly Page
For girly girls and women
This page is devoted to cats and shoes, and songs about same. You have been warned.
•
Songs about shoes and preferred versions:
• “These Boots,” Bloody and the Transfusions
• “Low Spark of High Heeled Boys,” Traffic
“(Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes,” Elvis Costello
Great Shoes I Have Owned:
•
•
A fabulous pair of high-heeled sandals that I bought in Munich for cheap. They were mostly yellow but had some
green on them, and green stripes up the back of the yellow heels. When they broke I took them to the shoe repair
guy and he said they weren’t worth fixing. He never fixed anything, at least not shoes. Ever since I was a kid and
my grandmother brought my shoes there and he said “She walks like a cow.” It must have been a front for
something. Come to think of it, why did I ever go there in the first place? Oh well. Great shoes though.
I still have these. Back in the day we used to call these impossible-to-walk-in numbers “Decadent Parisian Fuck
Me Shoes.” Probably because the wearer wouldn’t wait to get off her feet, and horizontal was an option that
presented itself. Nowadays they call them fetish shoes (though most of those have skinny stiletto heels). These
particular shoes are so extreme that it seems like the balls of your feet are actually directly under your heels. So I
bought them in all 3 colors.
Awesome Cats:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lazer Beam the STUBBLE cat, who earned an N+
rating (Extra Nasty) on her last visit to the vet.
Momma was so proud!
Albert Katt, who would visit my sister-in-law in her
dreams and stare at her.
Cookie, the French cat, whose unfortunate
declawing accentuates her extremely long and
elegant double paws. Work it, Cooker!
KC the Maine Coon, who is full of Tiger Juice and
wants to know if you’re in heat.
Orangeino, who rules the Fellsway, up to but not
including Big Red’s turf. One time he ate a whole
bunch of catnip-laced treats, and he sat on the
neighbor’s lawn going “Huh-huh” like Beavis for a
couple of days. Usually he’s a rude and belligerent
little asshole.
Polka, who sat in the middle of the road and hissed
at cars (Dot didn’t).
Steve, who wants to drink antifreeze.
Love, Kitty
Dedicated to Mike Horgun, who correctly predicted The Feminization of STUBBLE
CD REVIEWS
18 VISIONS
(Epic)
Screaming Marilyn Manson wannabee
tripe. LB
A.C. COTTON
Notes For The Conversation
(Ahab Was Right)
A nice rock album. You can try to call it
a lot of things from southern rock to
garage pop punk but it’s Rock n roll.
Like Ruth Ruth meets Tom Petty if you
will. MB
THE ADICTS-Rollercoaster
(SOS Records)
Punk rock with a TV or other party
attitude. The opening track Let’s Have A
Party is a great way to kick off the fun!
These guys remind me of Tenpole Tudor
or Sham 69 with the group chants. Like
its name it has it ups and downs but
overall a divertissement. MB
AGATHODAIMON
Serpent’s Embrace
(Nuclear Blast)
Extreme metal installment #4 from this
band that is a little like Cradle Of Filth.
The goth music roots are present in these
black metal songs (a band signature).
With a combination of clean, groveling
and screeching vocals the album charges
forward breaking in some new elements.
A recommended metal album. MTC
AMON AMARTHFate Of Norns
(Metal Blade)
I really like the 3 song sampler we got
from this album (it could be the best 3
tracks). Distinctive swirling symphonies
of extreme metal with deep groveling
vocals like Laibach. DB
AMORPHISFar From The Sun
(Nuclear Blast)
There is a reason this band is considered
one of if not the best extreme metal
band. This album is yet another example
of how they morph the dark metal
continuing to break new ground. The
lyrics and music brings a medieval
majick feel. The darkness is still there as
well as the lack of reverence they have
always maintained. Awesome stuff
highly recommended! DB
ERIC ANDERSSongs For Wayward Days
(Baggage Room)
Torturous 3 song sampler of mainstream
emo rock that begins with an agonising
tune about Sir Thomas Moore A Man
For No Season. To say anymore I see no
reason! MTC
KASEY ANDERSON-Dead Roses
(Resonant Noise Records)
This Bellingham based singer songwriter
covers all the minstral styles from Dylan,
The Byrds and John Cougar. Dead roses
is a slang term for farts and this
flatulence has a unique bouquet as well.
LB
AQUI-The First Trip Out
(Ace Fu)
Kind of in between King Diamond and
Northwinds except the lead vocalist is a
woman and the music isn’t quite as
heavy. Stephonik’s powerful vocals over
a late 80’s early 90’s metal full of high
energy. This one is an ignitor! DB
ARMY OF FRESHMENBeg, Borrow, Steal
(32nd Street Records)
Here we have yet another way to use the
age old trio (beg borrow or steal) in
music. It reminded me of the Ohio
Express song where it was basically
“Louie Louie” with different lyrics.
Anyway these fine young fellers play a
more pop oriented brand of Punk Rock.
An alternative to Good Charlotte or
Something Corporate you could say. Met
them at the Boston Warped Tour 04 as
they had a booth but were not playing
either day. This is pop, period, not punk
at all and that is not a knock on them.
The harmonies and musical hooks make
them a great band to listen to. DB
AUTHORITY ZERO Andiamo
(Lava)
From the same high school in Mesa,
Arizona as Jimmy Eat World comes a
more aggressive Punk, and some- times
Ska, outfit. The title, Andiamo, is Italian
for “let’s go,” and this sophomore
release continues to Go. Socially
conscious lyrics, and why not, as these
morons, much like their pals NOFX, are
urging kids to register to vote against
Bush. Politics aside, this is solid punk. I
especially love the cover of “Mexican
Radio.” LB
BAD RELIGION
The Empire Strikes First
(Epitaph)
Solid Punk Rock is nothing new for this
veteran CA outfit. The theme is anti-war,
like the hippie bands of the late 60’s.
Somehow it takes a little away from the
punk spirit, but as we all know the war is
hard to ignore. “Let Them Eat War” is
my favorite as it points out the obvious,
that few rich people are sent to fight and
die. Keepin it real! KC
nouveaux
bleu
MIKE BLANX & STAB’s
Starting Them off Young
(SOS Records)
The opening intro on the first song is the
intro to Anarchy In the UK . Old school
punk rock from NJ. You know when
punk rock had an edge and was far from
political correctness. Titles give it away
Slut, She’s 18, Whore and Drink Till You
Drop. Get The Picture? MTC
BAD WIZARD-#1
Tonite!
(Howler)
A mix of 70’s and 80’s arena rock. At
times its like AC/DC and other tracks are
Aerosmith meets Kiss or Blue Oyster
Cult. Old School rock for the new
millenium. DB
THE BLACK SWANS
Who Will Walk
In The Darkness with You?
(Delmore Recordings)
A nice mix of a gothic and hmmmm..
John Cale’s music. Dark lyrics as
melancholy as Hank Williams tear
jerkers. LB
BINAURAL-Last Reaction
( www.binaural.net)
Not bad 4 track CD of power-pop with a
punky edge. Radio ready as any other
major label spooge. Limp as overcooked
spaghetti if you like a harder sound.
From the no scene western
Massachusetts area where pop rules.
LB
SEXTON BLAKEJosh Hodges
(Expunged)
Supposedly a soundtrack to a movie
called Sexton Blake. The music is very
ethereal and flocculent with a somewhat
underground feel. Recorded at home on
his computer and maybe it should have
stayed there. Not that it sucks or nothing
like that it’s just very ignorable. MB
CALIBANThe Opposite From Within
(Abacus)
Named for Shakespeare’s deformed
slave charecter this five man band
delivers extreme brutality. The hardcore
metal from Germany is full of
malevolence and hostility. The doctor
will see you now. MB
BORKNAGAR-Epic
(Century Media)
This is a very creative metal release from
this veteran band from Norway. A mix
of pagan folk music along with modern
death metal. Epic metal keyboards by
Lars Nedland bring thoughts back to the
era of rock operas. The music itself seem
to be telling a story. A dark story as the
brutality you expect from Borknagar is
ever present. One of the best metal
albums of the year. LB
BOXER REBELLION
(Creep)
The dual lead vocals reminded me of
The Clash. The music is like Sublime
and Pennywise mixed together. Rockin
reggae hardcore punk music. Get on it!
MTC
THE BRIGGS
Leaving The Ways
(SideOneDummy)
This EP begins with an old school Oi
and quickly the LaRocca brothers get
into their own SoCal punk style. Loud
fast and thrashy stuff worth a spin. MTC
BRIGHT LIKE NEON LOVE
Cut Copy
(Modular)
Remember Spandeau Ballet (time) or
Human League of “Don’t You Want
Me” 80’s fame? Pre-Techno dance pop.
Well that’s what Dan Waitford and his
pals have assembled on this album.
While any one track on its own is
enjoyable, as a whole it gets to sound a
lot like the same song. The exception is
“Autobahn Music Box.”
KARL BROADIENowhere Now Here
(Laughing Outlaw Records)
Australia’s answer to the Nitty Gritty
Dirt Band. A bo-jangles of a time with
banjo, acoustic guitars and that whole
folksy almost bluegrass country music.
Karl’s coarse but smooth voice is a cross
between Gordon Lightfoot and Tom
Waits. A truly surprising and enjoyable
album. LB
CATTLE DECAPITATIONHumanure
(Metal Blade)
The cover art is graphically disgusting
and the atypical death vocals over speed
metal is nothing ground breaking. What
is unique are lyrics that point out animal
cruelty in terms of food processing. This
is also quite disgusting. But that is the
charm I guess? Nice cause and a
profound way to take it up. MTC
CHARMPARTICLES
Sit Down For Staying
(Childstar)
I’d rather stand. This is more emo pop
crap no better or worse than any of the
others. Suckalicious! MTC
COMMUNIQUE
Poison Arrows
(Lookout!)
Sugar sweet pop that (predictably)
makes my teeth hurt. Like a mouthful of
Pixie Stix and a Duran Duran sound.
Ouch! AA
DEMONOIDRiders of The Apocalypse
(Nuclear Blast)
Yet another speed death metal act from
Sweden. This one features the maniacal
guitar work of Kristian Niemann. His
riffs make this album work. The lyrical
content is the typical brutal and
blasphemous mix breaking wind, not
new ground as the press kit contends.
MTC
DWARVESThe Dwarves Must Die
(Sympathy For The Record Industry)
CONSHAFTERFear The Underdog
(Dork Epiphany)
Lots of la la la pop with a garage rock
feel. It has its moments like on Heavy
Metal Parking Lot where the lyrics
amuse and entertain. Interesting! LB
THE DATSUNSOutta Sight /Outta Mind
(V2 Records)
New Zealand’s punk foursome give us a
more old school sound. When NYC and
London were the scene, punk rock was
influenced by Iggy & The Stooges, MC5
and a raw garage rock sound. The
Datsuns are like the Ramones in that
they all have the same last name (not the
sound). Lead singer Dolph has a voice
like Richard Hell and the rock n roll
guitar work of Christian make these
Datsuns much better than the Japanese
cars they are named for. DB
HALLEY DeVESTERNSuperhero Killer
(Bagel & Bat)
Listening to Halley for the first time
brought back memories of Aretha
Franklin and Janis Joplin in their
respective primes. While the songs
themselves are not anything spectacular
Halley gives them life and they work. I
don’t think too many vocalists could pull
it off. MTC
DEVILINSIDE-Volume One
(Abacus)
Hardcore metal from the ashes of
Disembodied (drummer and guitarist).
Here comes a new name with a familiar
sound as it’s more alike than not.
Vocalist Jamie Gonzales gives a
screaming good performance leading the
musical journey. Rock on ! MB
DROPBOX
(Realign / Universal)
Realign presents its first signee. What
you get is a radio ready emo metal ala
Creed or something close. I hope they
can offer better than this commercial
spooge or the label would only be an
indie with nothing independent about it.
This should chart well with tunes like
Wishbone,, but Barry Manilow gets
airplay too.
MTC
Back with another CD adorned with
naked women and a midget, but its not
just sensationalism these guys rock!
Metalic punk, soundbites, electronics,
cool shite. I love the anti-mormon song
Salt Lake City it sounds like The
Boomtown Rats. My favorite is
Demented but this whole album is solid
listen. Recommended. LB
VAL EMMICHSlow Down Kid
(Epic)
Actually Val you need to speed it up.
The best park of this CD was the
watermark language. Oh you won’t get
that on the actual release (it is the promo
copy warning on the CD) A collection of
pop crap. Smelly. MTC
EPIC HERO-New Life
(www.epichero.com)
Romantic rock with whiney vocals in the
Tom Petty meets Rick Springfield kind
of thing. Trapped in the late 70’s early
80’s this kind of music is not a good
place to be or wannabe. Epic zero. LB
THE EXPLOSION-Black Tape
(Virgin)
Kapow! This gives us yet another pop
punk band to rival Good Charlotte or
Letter Kills. They shoot a few F-bombs
to try to avoid the pop tag but it is what
it is. They will have the youth of
America dancing to their music in high
tops and go-go boots. Well maybe not
quite yet. Bam! LB
THE FIVE L’s - Breathe Deep
(www.thefivels.com)
Here we have a true indie release of emo
metal. What makes them stand out from
the pack is the sampling and turntable
play of David Armstrong. Otherwise it’s
pretty mainstream stuff especially the
single My Faith which is getting some
airplay on the college stations. MTC
ESCAPE GRACE-EP
(City of Hell)
Gainesville FL answer to Bloody Mess
and The Skabs. A melange of noisy
ballsy aggressive music with low
production values. LB
EVENOUT-Drown Inside
(www.evenoutmusic.com)
Heavy guitar and mild melodic rock mix
together for an experience as fun a
tearing thru the toilet paper. Atypical
radio ready spooge. MTC
EVEN THE ODDPopular Among Van Owners
(Wrong)
A group of young musicians from
suburban Michigan. Emo rock with bits
of punk and metal. MB
THE EVERYONES
(Shock)
More like the No-Ones, The most
interesting thing about this release is that
the band had to legally change their
name from The Anyones (which was
already taken by a band I never heard of
either). This is very sugary sweet pop
with a punk feel. MTC
Something blue
Something
new
Something
FLOGGING MOLLYWithin A Mile of Home
(SideOneDummy)
While not the only band combining
traditional Irish music and punk rock
they are quite frankly the best. This
album features a guest appearance by
Lucinda Williams on FactoryGirls an
Irish folk classic. Dave King and his
band just make you want to swag a beer
or three and get out of control. Fifteen
great tunes that have a way to touch the
core of one's being. MB
LARS FREDERIKSEN
and the BASTARDS-Viking
(Hellcat)
Aggressive punk rock fun from one of
Rancid’s founding members. The lyrics
deal a lot with weapons and fighting.
Tunes go from a Cramps style
Mainlining Murder, to rockabilly Marie
Marie to the Irish rock styled My Life to
Live which is a kind of tribute to
groupies, this one’s a keeper. MTC
FROM FIRST TO LAST- Dear Diary,
My Teen Angst Has A Body Count.
(Epitaph)
Great album title. Interesting mix of
extreme metal and contemporary punk
rock. The lyrics are thought-provoking,
as are some of the song titles (“the one
armed lover vs. the flying guillotine”; “I
like you better before you were naked on
the internet.”). Baby Daddy
FUNERAL DRESS- A Way Of Life
(SOS Records)
For 15 years these guys have been one of
(if not the) best Punk band in Belgium.
Now with this new release on
California’s SOS Records exposes this
cool old school style punk rock to
American audiences. The songs stay in
the party theme. There also is a cool
cover of Men at Work’s classic Down
Under. Good Stuff! LB
PAUL GENG
Mnemo Sync(Syne?)
(www.PaulGeng.com)
Paul dedicated this album to the memory
of his mom. Folkpop with lyrics about
love and prayer and relationships: as
plain and ordinary as milk and cookies,
and as boring too. Lame! DB
GOD LIVES UNDERWATER
UpOff The Floor
(Megaforce Records)
These veterans of the industrial music
surge of the early to mid 90’s have got a
new CD here. It sounds like Marilyn
Manson mixed with the GLU sound and
lyrical style. In other words not as sick
and demented and that’s meant as a
commendation. A great rock sound that
gets the body moving. Recommended!
MTC
GRANIANOn My Own Two Feet
(www.granian.com)
Acoustic licks over pop and rock with a
folk flavor. Scary? DB
GUTTERMOUTH- Eat Your Face
(Epitaph)
Hands down my favorite punk rock
album for 2004. Witty lyrics and solid
punk rock sensibility and no
consideration for political correctness.
The opening track Party Of Two pleads
for the end of the 2 party political system
which is a dream of mine two. Singer
Mark Adkins “I get bored with serious
topics like George Bush Stinks and The
government’s a bowl of crap, I love you,
I love you also bores me terribly. I’d
rather make fun of all those a-holes
doing that.” and he does! I love The
Next Faux Mohican with lyrics “Now
That alternative rock is finally dead, and
all the white kids look just like Eminem,
Remember Michael on his Victory Tour,
back then he’s black, now I’m
not....sure?” I also can’t get Hot Dog To
The Head out of my head. I keep
humming it or singing it. People are
looking at me like I’m an idiot. Well too
bad, how about a Wiener to the face to
put you in your place? Schnitzel to the
lips? MTC
GRAVEFiendish Regression
(Century Media)
Why there is so much hate for
Christianity in the death metal from
Norway and Sweden? This 6th release
from Sweden’s Grave is just another
installment that easily fits the mold.
Graced with sacriligious artwork on its
cover, this CD is relentless black metal.
You can feel the hate rip through the
speakers and through your soul. Not for
the squeamish horror fans, this is real
blasphemous stuff. MTC
GRIZZLY BEARHorn Of Plenty
(Kanine Records)
The CD case comes covered in fake fur
and what’s inside is just as pompous. As
light as a cloud and after 2-3 tracks (any
3) this grows quite tiresome to say the
least. Should have released an EP. I
mean with this much pretension you
know something had to be released.
13,14,15 Time’s Up! LB
HALFACRE GUNROOMWrecked
(Deathwish/ Icarus)
Deep sedate Nick Cave vocals doing
rock ballads with a slice of country. A
bizzare mix that actually works. Melodic
darkness with tales from the pains of
love. Move over White Stripes there’s a
new player. LB
THE HAUNTED-rEVOLVEr
(Century Media)
Speed thrash metal trash from the gutters
of Sweden. Reeling from the loss of their
drummer to Cradle Of Filth this one just
doesn’t capture the excitement 1998’s
self titled debut album. Guest Lou Koller
from Sick Of It All on Who Will Decide
spice it up a bit, but this ain’t a single.
LB
HOLLYWOOD ROSEThe Roots Of Guns And Roses
(Deadline)
Here you go the original demo tapes
from GNR when they were called
Hollywood Rose complete with talking
and drumstick clicks between the songs.
Not bad and certainly better than
anything Axel can offer today. That
being said besides diehard fans who
really needs to hear this? MTC
HELMET-Size Matters
(Interscope)
Back from a 7 year recording absence
comes Page Hamilton and crew with
some good and lame stuff. The good
being the opening tracks that sound kind
of like Bloody & The Vaynes and the
lame being the emo styled tracks. That’s
not how to sound current it’s how to
sound corporate. There’s still more good
than bad! DB
HAZEN STREET
(Sony)
Mainstream metal that has its ups and
downs – add this street to the
overpopulated map of soundalikes. LB
THE HIVES
Tyrannosaurus Hives
(Interscope)
This Swedish quartet will never be
accused of making accessible music;
what they make is loud, garage-sounding
punk rock. That’s a good thing. In fact,
it’s a great thing on this disc, a follow-up
to the Hives widely popular 2000
release, Veni Vidi Vicious. UR
I CAN LICK ANY SONOFABITCH
IN THE HOUSEMenace
(In Music We Trust)
Bluesy rock pop that musically sounds
like the 70’s and 80’s post hippie shit.
Lyrically it’s more like Bad Religion or
NOFX. Who doesn’t want to listen to
songs like A Good Day To Be A Bad
Husband and Regrets and Greyhounds.
DB
INCANTATION
Decimate Christendon
(Century Media)
For those who want to defend yet
another heretical release as just a horror
movie to music I suggest you listen to
this. A steaming pile of irreverent hate
that has a mission to spread negativity.
Yes they are successful as they were
with 2002’s release Blasphemy. As
sacrilegious and brazen as you want it!
DB
INTERNAL BLEEDINGOnward to Mecca
(Olympic)
Hate filled loud thrash with nail gargling
vocals and a throbbing bass. Nothing has
changed for this NYC hate rock band. If
you love them grab this if not it’s
another steaming platter of dung. MTC
NICKI JAINE –
Of Pigeons And Other Curiosities
(Shaman)
Nicki is a veteran of the Goth music
scene, and this solo effort puts her in line
with a different genre. NYC Under
ground with her Nico-esque songs
captured here; I fear she may be
traveling in Nico’s tracks (judging by
this release). One hook is the truly and
hauntingly awful piano, which is
intentionally loud enough to negate the
possibility of “easy listening.” She
draws inspiration from Marlene Dietrich
and the Roaring 20’s Cabaret scene. The
lyrics are also amazing, as out there as
Kim Fowley ever was, running the
gamut from comedy to tragedy with
stops at irony and pathos. While not for
everyone, if you like the preceding
description you need to pick it up. Dark
Lyrics and music to match - +++ NN
JAO PANZER- Casting The Stones
(Century Media)
Classic arena metal in the realm of Dio
or King Diamond. Led by the operatic
vocals of Harry “The Tyrant” Conklin
that deliver tales of armed forces from
days past. LB
THE JE NE SAIS QUOISecret Language EP
(Coalition)
That certain something is a modern day
Gang Of Four with chaotic chords,
pretentious vocals and a mix of sounds
from The Cramps to The Groovie
Ghoulies and Moby Grape. Mange Moi
Pate Fois Gras, ya poodlehead! This isn’t
French it’s Frenchy-french which is not
really French or to be confused with
such. They are from Sweden need I say
more, probably not but… this picture is
worth 1000 words but I’ll spare you.
You owe me! DB
KEANE- Hopes and Fears
(Interscope)
Here’s mine: I hope I never hear this
again, I fear I will, as we have 2 of this
dreadful Cher meets the lady who sang
“Those Were The Days, My Friend”
kind of pop spooge, and getting airplay
as well as critical acclaim. Painful,
especially since I know this is a guy
singing who sounds like Cher. GG
KING DIAMONDDeadly Lullabyes
(Metal Blade)
All we got is a 6 song sample disc so I’m
not sure if the full CD is as good. These
rock with the patented high operetta
voice of The King (No not Elvis King
Diamond. DB
BOBBY LINDSTROMA Lick And A Promise
(Blue Eyed Crow)
Old school rockin blues boogie woogie
music. Reminded me of Johnny Winter,
Canned Heat, or Robert Johnson. OK
stuff. There are way too many other
blues albums I could recommend
instead. MB
KIRKENDAHL VOYDGraveyard A-Go-Go
(Kitty Kat)
If I could let me dub this horror rock.
The music has a B or is that D movie
feel. Or is it bad porno soundtrack as
with Plan 69 From Outer Space. My
favorite is You Couldn’t Pour Enough
Liquor Down My Throat (to Put Me In
The Mood To Do You) This band of
sickos have got a pretty entertaining and
unique approach. Check it out! MTC
KITTIEUntil The End
(Artemis)
The Lander sisters are back with an all
female line-up for this latest roar.
Morgan’s vocals go from an
overpowering growl to sweet music. The
tunes are as brutal as any of the premier
death metal acts today. The lyrics are
deeper than the sexual fodder they made
famous on their debut SPIT even though
you get tunes like Sugar and Looks So
Pretty. This is an enhanced disc as well
so there’s fun for the PC too. Brutally
awesome. LB
LETTER KILLS-The Bridge
(Island)
Finally a full length release. Fast paced
power chord pop punk. High charged
vocal harmonies and witty lyrics.
Worthy of CMJ airplay especially Don’t
Believe and WhateverIt Takes. MB
ALYSSON LIGHTLooking Glass Conversations
(www.AlyssonLight.com)
Alysson has talent, songwriting isn’t one
of them. 13 piano-backed love or love
lost melodies that are neither catchy nor
lyrically interesting. Fried Green
Tomatoes. HH
LORDROCE2 To Bass
(www.skygodent.com)
Here you got some fresh hip-hop tuneage
from Queens NY. Lord Rocco gives us
his own 8 mile getting a good deal of
attention working the NY city clubscene.
20 songs and 25 tracks. Lots of guest
rappers and solid rhythm on this well
produced debut. MTC
L.P. –
Suburban Sprawl & Alcohol
(Light Switch)
Yes, she does look like Marc Bolan, but
musically there is no similarity. A
harder Rock/Pop sound with the accent
on Pop. The opening cut, “Wasted”,
should be a hit, with lyrics like “Get
wasted with me.” Kind of Juliana
Hatfield or Liz Phair, but different. If
you’re looking for some fun, catchy
poprock, you might want to give this a
spin. MM
BILL MADDEN
Samsara’s Grip
(MadMuse)
The cover art is a photo of a young Bill
in his shorts with his schlong hanging
out. True Story: reminds me of the time
I was selling door to door and this guy
agreed to the appointment. I drove 45
minutes to get there. And he opens the
door in a robe and pajama buttons with,
you guessed it, with his schlong hanging
out. Just for the record I needed the sale
and got it by entering and talking with
this guy. He had one wall of videotape,
mostly porn. Sick, disgusting …
Anyway this album is a bunch of mello
alternative rock that begins with Bill
singing “I am I suck”. Actually he
doesn’t say that, but it sounded like that
to me. He should have because, well, it
does. DB
MAD CADDIESLive From Toronto:
Songs in The Key Of Eh
(FatWreckChords)
A collection of the bands best tunes
captured live from Toronto’s Opera
House. Fast paced fun punk rock with a
solid horn section. 19 killer tunes. DB
MATCHBOOK ROMANCEMotion City Soundtrack
(Epitaph)
Acoustic punk rock. What that means in
this case is whiney folk music with a
voice that reminded me of Sting. With
Lyrics like “Your as Welcome as
Cancer” and music that sounds like Art
Garfunkel and it is not for me. If you are
big follower of the band pick this up,
otherwise exercise caution. MTC
MELEE’- Everyday Behavior
(Sub-City)
A mix of emo punk and metal that seems
popular today despite it being lame. Part
of the problem not the solution. MTC
MELVINS-Lustmord
(Ipecac)
Lustmord, Pigs of The Roman Empire
marks the return of this band known as
Melvins. A mix of heavy metal , grunge,
and lots of noise. LB
MOTION PICTURE DEMISE
Rebuild / Reform
(Orange Peel)
This debut EP is a high charged punk
rock effort that I can’t get out of my CD
player. The final track Control that
features guest Mark Morton from Lamb
of God. Check it out! MTC
Blauwe nouveaux
Blauwe nouveaux
MNEMICThe Audio Injected Soul
(Nuclear Blast)
This Danish band is more like
Meshuggah in that it is dark and
ignominious but it can’t be dismissed as
noise. A mix of classic and extreme
metal that is solid music. Talented yet
brutally aggressive tunes like Deathbox
and Mindsaver. Not just another Hail
Satan band. MTC
NAPALM DEATH
Leaders Not Followers:Part 2
(Century Media)
Here they are the true fathers of extreme
metal with yet another awesome release.
Shane and Barney have done it again.
This one is another collection of covers
that are band member favorites done
faster in the trademark Napalm Death
style. You’ll hear songs from Sepultura,
Agnostic Front, and Devastation, as well
as Napalm’s version of Anti Cimex’s
Game Of The Arseholes. A total of 19
songs. On tour now check them out one
way or the other. MTC
NEDELLE AND THOMSummerland
(Kill Rock Stars)
More like slumberland, this is a yawner.
This album is a tribute to 60’s pop music
ala Burt Bacharach. Nedelle and Thom
are big fans of him and 60’s female
singers like Pet Clark, Dionne Warwick
and Dustry Springfield who sang his
happy tripe. As I was listening to the
first track You Take Me You Break Me I
asked myself how many more songs can
I last? As with the tootsie roll owl it was
three. Painful is a polite way of
describing it. MTC
THE NERVOUS RETURNWake Up Dead
(Lasalle)
Witty punky lyrics and a mix of
alternative and garage punk music.
Think Allistar and Squeeze and settle
somewhere in between. LB
ONLY CRIMETo The Nines
(FatWreckChords)
Good Riddance’s vocalist Russ Rankin
has got together a new band to continue
his desire for touring. Eleven slices of
modern punk rock served up for your
consumption. MB
PARKINSONG,Volume One
38 Songs Of Hope
(Ryko)
This is a 2 CD set put together for a great
cause which is to battle Parkinson’s
Disease. You get performances by
Bonnie Raitt, Crosby & Nash, Dar
Williams and many others. Although I
found this to be too diverse and mellow
for my tastes I still recommend fans of
the lighter side of music to buy this. DB
THE PHENOMENAUTSRockets And Robots
(www.phenomenauts.com)
Rockabilly ala Link Wray with cool Scifi lyrics. This 4 song EP leaves you
begging for more. I can’t stop humming
Tiny Robots and Robot Love , they are
damm catchy. I picked this up at Warped
Tour and glad I did. The live show is
way cool too with the costumes right out
of a 60’s space film and the stand up
bass guitar. I can’t help it Rockabilly
that’s out of this world! Yeah its corny
like that but isn’t that the point. DB
PUBLIC DISPLAY OF AFFECTION
The Sound of Independent Radio
(Nettwerk)
Like most PDA’s they are usually only
good for the people involved and make
others uncomfortable, Mission
Accomplished. The concept was to get
4 of the most respected radio program
directors and have them put together 12
songs. The criteria was to submit their
favorite songs by your favorite artists.
Sounds greeat huh? But it’s a painful
assortment of male and female lead
vocals. The guys sound sub sub Don
Henley or Tom Petty. The woman
provide a spurious assortment of
Melanie or Cheryl Wheeler hippie folk
rock. You get a little variation if you can
last till the final 4 tracks. MB
PITBULL DAYCARE-Unclean
(Cleopatra)
Here we have Industrial rock ala Marilyn
Manson. The exception is a hip hop
legend KRS-One guest spot. Other
guests that appear are 80’s metalists
Stephen Pearcy (Ratt) and Fred Coury
(Cinderella). After 11 tracks of
aggressive rockers they do a cover of
Modern English’s End Of The World. A
bonus DVD makes this more than a
decent debut. LB
PROVERB-Proverbs
(Daydream Entertainment)
Neil Vilain aka Proverb has got this
demo single with 2 versions of the title
track. One radio one album. Cool hiphop but hard to judge on one song. KH
PUNK-O-RAMA
(Volume 9)
(Epitaph)
This has gone from a forum for punk to a
label sampler. An Irish ballad from the
Dropkick Murphys, an Atmosphere hiphop tune, Deathcore from From First To
Last (pictured above), and Hellb?? rock
from Necromantix, but fear not, there’s
plenty of punk too. Bad Religion,
Rancid, Pennywise, Pulley, Tiger Army,
and lots more in these 24 tracks. You
also get a bonus DVD of 11 videos – the
best deal of the year for the price! KZ
JENNY QUEEN
Girls Who Cry Need Cake
(Laughing Outlaw Records)
I’m no expert on crying girls but I
couldn’t take much of this folk pop with
a whiny chick singer. Oh she’s big in
Australia and she is from Sydney you
say. That’s very nice to know. Like we
need a modern day Judy Collins
wannabe. I guess Jenny just wants some
cake. MTC
RAWK DAWGWe Only Came To Rock
(Music Room Publishing)
Post Hendrix guitar rock with lots of
bluesy hooks. Wish it was instrumental
as the guitar playing is the attracting
force. A remarkable improvement over
their debut CD that in a few years they
will refer to as a demo. Rawk Dog rocks
this time! LB
RESILIENCESound Of Strength
(SOS Records)
Although they only began playin in 1999
this punk band has a sound that is more
of the 1980’s classic style. Frontman
Fury is credited with Yelling (as opposed
to vocals) and he does so in a way that
reminded me of Lee Ving. A Circle Jerks
meets DOA if you will. Good Stuff! LB
JONATHAN RICHMAN – Not So
Much To Be Loved Than To Love
(Sanctuary/Vapor)
The lovely Jonathan’s 22nd album has a
decidedly international flavor, with
songs in French and Italian, songs about
big subjects like artists, wine, love, and
The World. The Boston native’s 13
songs aren’t all poppy and silly; some of
it is more moody, wine-drinking music,
and there’s even a mellow instrumental
called Sunday Morning. Salvador Dali
and Van Gogh each get their own songs,
and Abu Jamal features an accordion.
He Gave Us Wine To Taste It (“not to
talk about it”) has nice percussion,
unlike one of the French songs, Les
Etoiles (the stars), which features a kind
of military drumming. If you want
typical Jonathan, there’s some here, but
this is an unusual effort even for him.KH
RIVER CITY REBELSHate To Be Loved
(www.rivercityrebels.com)
One of the coolest bands on this
summers Warped Tour have a hot new
CD from the label with the most
unmannerly publicity staff. Produced by
NY Dolls legend Sylvain Sylvain and
recorded in classic analog this one will
rock your ass. NY City’s Lower East
Side has brought us so many great
underground, punk and avant garde acts
going there to record this gives the rebels
a great deal of that spirit. The cover and
CD booklet pictures are basically shots
of sexy women piling on these boys
from Vermont. Great tunes like Die
Young, I’m So Vain ,and the title cut are
highlights amongst this not typical punk
rock. With a horn section (not doing
Ska) and dressed like New Hampshire
punk legend The Jabbers the live show is
contagious (see Warped Tour Review).
The CD does not disappoint either. Back
in the late 70’s when Punk wasn’t the
west coast Epitaph / FatWreckChords
sound identified with the name, Punk
was a attitude or scene. This is punk rock
in that sense, this ain’t another
Millencolin or Pennywise (not like that’s
a bad thing to be). Bopper and the boys
just reek of cool. So go get yourself a
copy! DB
ROCK AGAINST BUSH Vol 2
(FatWreckChords)
Here we have the second bargain priced
politically charged compilation from
bands (mostly punk) looking to get John
Kerry elected. By the time this hits print
we will know if that occurred. Politics
aside this is one hell of a deal with 28
tracks of music and a bonus DVD of
music videos, comedy sketches and
worthless political shorts. I think
everyone has the right to express their
opinions but the entertainment industry
(music, movies, TV etc) has gone
overboard trying to influence the young
and countrified. The truth is, neither
political party is looking out for the
common man and both parties are
bought and paid for by special interests.
The television and radio media ignore
and belittle 3rd party candidates. (FYINader is not the only one running against
the 2 major parties) They exclude them
from debates and exposure needed to
really make changes for the better. Sure
Bush sucks but the alternative of voting
for Kerry sucks too. Bottom line, the real
people who run this country don’t care
who you vote for as long as it is a
democrat or republican. If the president
doesn’t play ball they will eliminate
them. For those who remember Regan
pitching a flat tax think about this. Regan
never spoke about it after he got shot.
Coincidence? I don’t think so. Call me
cynical. Anyway pick this 2 disc set up
as it is loaded with unreleased material.
KZ
RUBYHORSE
Goodbye To All That
(Brash)
Boston and Ireland combine to (?) this 5
man act led by vocalist David Farrell.
This second release, recorded in
Nashville, is as far from C&W, and from
Rock (??) as it could be. Lo-fi
alternative folk rock pop, its mellow
atmospheric sound scapes are there for
those who prefer them. DB
THE RUMBLE BEES
Be Pretty Be Naked Be Quiet
(Keane)
Stupid songs for Genius people? Allright
then. The first few are kind interesting A
Lot Like Life and My Dysfunctional
Family. Then comes the title track and
it’s a swing tune with horny horns. Very
misogynistic , look it up there genius.
The more you listen the less interesting
the lyrics and the album. LB
SAHARA HOTNIGHTS –
Kiss & Tell
(RCA)
Beautiful Swedish women playing punk
rock? It can’t be true. It is. Somebody
please pinch me. Roaring guitars and
some lush harmony. What’s the saying?
MORE ESTROGEN! UR
NIKOLA SARCEVICLock-Sport-Krock
(Epitaph)
Nikola should stick to Punk. This starts
with a Dylanesque harmonica tune and
continues with styling that reminds me
of John Sebastian and Roger Cook but
not in a good way. LB
SCATTER THE ASHES
(Epitaph)
While the PR claims it has a punk
foundation, it’s more like a mix of U2,
The Edge’s guitars, and the vocal
stylings of Daryl Stamps, amongst a
soundscape-like dream theater society.
KZ
SILVERBAIT-Westward
(Blue Eyed Crow)
A creative (or strange) mix of alternative
and southern rock. The problem is that
most of the songs run too long or are too
much like modern cowboy music ala
Tom Mix, Roy Rogers or Gene Autry.
At times it has a Gordon Gano or
Jonathan Richman style but it fades
quickly back to the ranch. Yee haw
saddle up podner! Giddy-up. MB
SILVERTIDE-Show And Tell
(J Records)
Here we have a new band that brings
back the style of Skid Row or AC/DC
80’s arena metal. They have been
opening for classic bands like Van
Halen, Alice Cooper and Aerosmith to
name a few. Let’s just say it’s a good fit.
DB
SINGAPORE SLINGLife Is Killing My Rock “N” Roll
(Stinky Records)
Here’s a good one. A muddy recording
that is somewhere close to The Dandy
Warhols and The Velvet Underground in
its overall sound. While I’m not a fan of
the cocktail the band name is derived
from I like this album. It reeks of cool!
MTC
SKULLSNight of The Living Skulls
(Finger Records / Square World Films)
Not sure where to put this review as it is
a CD/DVD combo that comes in both
packaging formats. Since I got the CD
pack I chose to put it here. The CD
portion is a high charged concert of LA
late 70’s early 80’s punk rock stylings
from one of the surviving acts. Billy
Bones still sounds great and thats what
kept it alive. The DVD is both live and
videos along with interviews and skate
action footage. A pretty cheap way to
check them out and the ultimate package
for Skulls fans. KZ
SPIDERBAIT-Tonight Alright
(Interscope)
A mix of fast paced garage rock with
both Male and Female vocals. Danceable
hard rockin tunes like Put It Down and
Tonite should be reason enough. Think
Yeah Yeah Yeah’s meets Sweetwater.
LB
SWINGIN UTTERSLive in A Dive
(FatWreckChords)
The latest in the series of live punk
FatWreckChords albums. Too bad the
typical fan does not get to check out the
promo comic books that accompany
each release. This one is especially cool
as our heroes (Swingin Utters) are a
imitation Scooby Doo and crew. With 23
tracks and enhanced CD material it’s
hard not to recommend. This captures
the Utters sound well and is a virtual best
of album. DB
SETH SWIRSKYInstant Pleasure
(seth.com)
Title and opening song is a funny ditty
about all Seth wants (Sex anytime, quiet
etc etc...) that is truly entertaining.
Unfortunately this is a 11 song CD with
enhanced extras. Enough material for a
single as the rest is like sub sub
McCartney’s Beatles tunes. Instant
paroxysm. MB
THE THRILLSLet’s Bottle Bohemia
(Virgin)
Alternative rock ballads filled with
regrets, lost loves, and other
disappointments. This sophomore release
from these Dublin boys should get them
continued CMJ success. LB
TIGER ARMY III:
Ghost Tigers Rise
(Hellcat)
Punk and Rockabilly combined once
again and this band just keeps it comin’.
An exciting musical style, and one of the
best (TMO’S???) performing today. Get
ready to feel the music move through
you and move your body. Hopefully this
album and the Warped Tour will earn
them a warm respect. BB
TOTAL CHAOS- Punk Invasion
(SOS Records)
Consistent is the word for this band that
was one of the pioneers for Epitaph
Records. Fast high energy punk rock that
ends up as 22 bass driven solid tracks on
this new CD. Total Punk! MTC
UNKLE- Never Never Land
(Global Underground)
A relative, giving up?? Not sure on the
meaning. It all starts with Back And
Forth which uses lyrics from the classic
Motown hit Ball Of Confusion. No credit
though, I guess you can steal a lyric or
two. The whole album is very ethereal
and aerial. Moody trippy dance tunes.
LB
CERULEUS
NOVUS
UNCLE KRACKER
72 and Sunny
(Lava)
With the success of his last album being
in the covers and low energy pop and
country, this album keeps to that style.
How anyone can associate him with Kid
Rock any more has obviously not been
paying attention. I was very
disappointed – not a single rockin tune,
all AM radio/Vay mello crap. So if
that’s your bag, go for it. Uncle Sellout!
KZ
UNLEASHED- Sworn Allegiance
(Century Media)
Allegiance to guess who? Mephisto,
Lucifer, Baphomet, one of them I’m
sure. This is yet another installment of
pure infernal irreverence from one of the
pioneers of death metal. 15 years ago
this all started in Sweden. Merciless
brutality in the lyrics. The supreme metal
riffs and devastating rhythm make them
still one of the most revered in the genre.
LB
VADER-The Beast
(Metal Blade)
All we got was a 3 song sample and I
hear nothing new from this veteran death
metal act. To know them is to ....... LB
THE VANDALSHollywood Potato Chip
(Kung Fu)
Listening to this CD prior to seeing them
at this year’s Warped Tour and 10th
Anniversary shows made each set
something special as most of the fans
haven’t heard it yet. What can I say that
hasn’t been said except The Vandals
rule! DB
BUTCH WALKER
(Epic)
Sugary sweet emo pop poop. Awful! LB
WARPED TOUR 2004 Compilation
(SideOneDummy)
A preview of the bands on this year’s
Vans Warped Tour (or a review,
depending on when you… oh, never
mind). 50 bands 50 tracks 2 CD set. A
great way to get a listener’s digest of this
year’s tour lineup. LB
WITHOUT END- Disease Is Man
(Pseudoplasma)
Screams and chants over a brutal brand
of death metal. Frontman Adam
Tranquilli’s guitar work and vocals are
awesome. No wonder he has success in
past endeavors Blood Feast and
Headlock. Check this one out! MTC
uli, polu nuhou
uli, polu nuhou
WITHOUT MxFx ORDER
Reputation For F##king
([email protected])
Let me first point out that the reputation
referenced in the title track is a bad one.
This one is so real most of you out there
couldn’t handle it, trust me! This is raw
scum rock with extreme quantities of
testosterone and effrontery that starts
right with the first song Jail Sucks to the
final bonus cut Underage. Noisy dirty
punk ditties with unsanitized lyrics. Not
the tell me how you really feel type of
lyrics. If you like Bad Religion or other
modern punk icons you won’t
necessarily like this, it is that raw. The
vocals of Sicko certainly are. So if you
think you can handle it, get in touch with
the band and get a copy. MB
THE WITNESSES-Tunnel Vision
(Howler)
NY based band with members from all
over the states and got together as a
result of carnival work. This strange
origin leads us to a rock sound that is
somewhere between The Jefferson
Airplane and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The
vocals of Bonnie Bloomgarden and
Oakley Munson alternate and mix to
give this release its high energy. DB
DVD Reviews
GG ALLIN /Murder JunkiesRaw, Brutal, Rough And Bloody
(MVD)
Footage from 3 shows in 1991 plus
bonus interview footage with GG’s
mom. 1991 was after his incarceration in
MI and the hardened GG gives no
quarter. He and the band come out naked
or close to it and it’s an animal behavior
filled set of loud angry music. The last
years of GG are by far some of the most
extreme punk rock ever. This video
captures the air of danger these gigs
emanated to the audiences. The
interview with GG’s mom is well..
interesting and I guess explains a lot.
DB
THA ALKAHOLIKS
X.O. THE MOVIE EXPERIENCE
(MVD likwit Entertainment)
This DVD was actually like I thought it
would be coming from these guys. It's
semi raunchy and includes rappers and
there real lives. The Alkaholiks show us
what it's like to be on the Snoop Dogg
tour backstage , and then chillen with
XZIBIT in the studio and bustin' some
rhymes. It also includes live show
footage at their shows and what goes on
backstage. Blunt smokin and groupies
gettin naked you see a little flesh. Then it
shows them off stage just chillen with
there boys Kurupt and DAZ
DILLENGER. Overall it was a great
DVD. If your a Alkaholiks fan it's a must
have, and if your not, You must see it
once it's quite an experience -KZJR
ANTISEEN- 20 Year Anniversary
Show
(TKO)
Recorded in April 2003 this DVD
captures 34 tunes from this southern
punk rock band led by vocalist Jeff
Clayton. Well filmed with multiple
camera angles as they breeze thru their
classics and covers of George Jones,
Lynard Skynard, Ramones and Lord
Sutch. Lots of great stuff and dare I say
fun. Cool beans. DB
PATO BANTON & THE REGGAE
REVOLUTION Spreading The Good News Live
[MVD]
Live concert footage recorded during a
2001 reggae festival in Germany. 12
upbeat revolution raps to promote the
"Now Generation". Other happy hits
include "Seattle Satan", "Drive By
Shooting" and "Letter 2 Da President".
Serious subjects never sounded so sweet.
If this were breakfast cereal, it'd be
called Reggae Sugar Pops. JV
COUNT BASIE
[MVD]
Truly classic black & white video clips
from the golden age of jazz starring
COUNT BASIE, FATS WALLER,
LOUIS ARMSTRONG, JOE TURNER,
HENRY "RED" ALLEN, GENE
KRUPA, LUCKY MILLINDER and
BILL "BOJANGLES" ROBINSON. 32
tantalizing tracks featuring "One
O'Clock Jump", "Ain't Misbehavin'" and
"Shake, Rattle and Roll". JV
BUKOWSKI AT BELLEVUE
(MVD)
Back when Stubble first began we had a
poetry section. I thought about that as I
viewed this grainy black + white film of
Charles Bukowski reading his works at
Bellevue Community College from
1970. The subject matter is mostly
centered on his experience amongst the
dregs of society. He got his reputation
when his poems were published in the
Los Angeles Free Press back in the mid
1950’s. From there he went on to writing
40+ novels as well as short stories and
poetry. While that was long ago the
material is not as dated as the footage
appears. For those looking for something
different this certainly qualifies. DB
CAB CALLOWAY
'Hi-De-Ho' and Other Movies
[MVD]
A timeless collection of 16 b&w music
video masterpieces that lay the
groundwork for today's popular music
video culture. It's all there from the hot
dancing girls to the musicians with
attitudes, swapping the popular jargon of
the day over infectious beats. Featuring
"Hi-De-Ho", "Minnie The Moocher" and
"St. James Infirmary". JV
CAPTAIN EVERYTHING / DIVIT /
BELVEDERE
Live At Camden Underworld
(www.punkervision.net)
Lots of songs from 3 fairly cool modern
punk bands; Divit is the photo. It’s 3 sets
kind of like a full bill at your local punk
venue in your living room. LB
BILL CHAMPLIN - In Concert
[MVD]
Bill Champlin was the distinctive voice
of the band CHICAGO for many years.
The singer, song writer and experienced
session musician also plays with his own
bands which are built on lively,
rhythmically interesting, harmonious and
timeless rock. 11 pop tracks featuring "In
The Heat Of The Night", "Turn Your
Love Around" and "Papa Can Play". JV
CRADLE OF FILTH
Heavy Left Handed & Candid
(MVD)
For those not familiar lets just say this
band is not anywhere close to
mainstream music (even alternative).
Danny Filth and crew deliver a colorful,
shocking and somewhat disturbing live
performance of their extreme dark metal.
Featured songs are Lord
Abortion,Cthulhu Dawn and From The
Cradle To Enslave. But that’s not all as
you get 2 music videos Born In A Burial
Gown and Scorched Earth Erotica. A
must have for fans of extreme metal and
the rest of you can run and hide. LB
DUKE ELLINGTON - In Hollywood
[MVD]
A compilation of short and mediumlength films starring the great Duke
Ellington and his orchestra. Black And
Tan (1929), Symphony In Black (1935 featuring the famous sequence with
Billie Holiday), plus assorted different
musical sequences from other motion
pictures, including the three scenes
starring Mae West in the 1934 movie
Belle Of The Nineties. 22 tremendous
tracks of sweet swing era jazz. JV
DUKE ELLINGTON
LIONEL HAMPTON
Two Legendary Bandleaders
[MVD]
This anthology gathers different
"soundies" (short features produced for
movie theatres) and telescriptions (the
first music videos) dating back from the
Forties and early Fifties and showcasing
material by the Duke Ellington orchestra
and the Lionel Hampton (photo) big
band. Featuring Duke's "Caravan",
"Flamingo" and "C Jam Blues" and
Lionel's "Midnight Sun", "Air Mail
Special" and "Vibe Boogie". In all, 22
timeless tracks by two of the best of the
swing era. JV
THE GLADIATORS- Live In Paris
(MVD)
One of the oldest Reggae bands captured
live from a show in France in the year
2000. Albert Griffiths and band perform
songs from their first hit in 1968 Hello
Carol to tunes from 2000’s Something of
A Gwaan. Check this out as they have
been as big as The Wailers in Jamaica
and virtually unknown everywhere else.
DB
THE FABULOUS DORSEYS
[MVD]
This is the incredible life story of Mr.
Trombone and Mr. Sax, two brothers
who found individual success following
the break-up of their orchestra and the
death of their father. Featuring a host of
well-known big band musicians and
singers performing on such classics as
“Marie”, “Green Eyes”, “I’m Getting
Sentimental Over You”, “Object Of My
Affections”, and many more. JV
DIZZY GILLESPIE –
Jivin’ in Be-Bop
[MVD]
Arguably the greatest jazz trumpeter of
all time struts his stuff on 18 exceptional
cuts with the help of his fabled post-war
big band starring John Lewis on keys,
Milt Jackson on vibes and Ray Brown on
bass. Featuring the Bop classics “Salt
Peanuts”, “Shaw Nuff” and “Things To
Come”. JV
Kitty Harte Having A Smoke
BENNY GOODMAN
Kings Of The Swing Era
[MVD]
The greatest of the jazz clarinetists,
Benny was universally known as “The
King Of Swing”. The massive popular
success of his music in the early Thirties
launched the Swing era and turned him
into an over night star. A 30 track
compilation of different clips featuring
the great Benny Goodman and his band,
this DVD is completed with a selection
of assorted soundies from the Swing era
starring popular performers and
bandleaders of the day such as Artie
Shaw, Jimmy Dorsey, Hoagy
Carmichael and Jack “Mr T” Teagarden.
JV
GOTH-The Ultimate Collection
(Cleopatra- MVD)
Remember the music that established a
unique branding of the Cleopatra sound
– Goth. Later came all the other unique
bands from the label Cleopatra. These
videos have been released as single CD’s
or videos many times. That’s a good
thing, some of my favorite tunes are
included in this set. You get all 55
videos and 12 audio tracks from a list of
performers that includes Spahn Ranch
(above), Big Electric Cat, Killing Joke,
Electric Hellfire Club, Pigface, Leather
Strip, Nosferatu, Christian Death,
Foetus, Psychic TV, and lots more. A
must have for goth fans and worth a try
for anyone who needs to check it out
(which is most of you). Peace. MTC
HENDRIX
(MGM)
Leon Ichaso’s film based on the life of
the best guitar player that ever lived tells
the story from an interesting perspective.
Wood Harris gives a great performance
as Jimi. I bought into him as Jimi within
his first few minutes and with such a
complex personality to emulate Wood
makes this film work. From his
childhood to his days with Little Richard
and Ike Turner to his final moments
Wood is very likeable just as Jimi was.
The film goes out of its way to entri
Michael Jeffery and paint Chas Chandler
as a true friend of Jimi, almost as a
brother or cousin. Ask the other
members of The Animals about how the
copywriting of House of The Rising Son
went down. We can hold off sainthood
for ol Chas. The popular view of things
was that Jimi was easily exploited
getting only a small cut of the millions
generated by his music and Jeffery was
the worst of the lot for sure. But not the
only one. The biggest complaint though
with this film is how it totally dismisses
Jimi’s original music and focuses on the
covers of Wild Thing, Like A Rolling
Stone, The Star Spangled Banner, and
the whole building up to what they make
out as Jimi’s greatest achievement
covering Dylan’s All Along The
Watchtower. While this is a great song
especially radio airplaywise true fans of
Hendrix are surely offended. I am! KZ
KING OF KINGS – Family Tour
[MVD]
A Jamaican music documentary
exclusive featuring songs by Iley
Dred/Mikey Dangerous, CAPLETON,
JONAH aka Junior Alexander,
BUSHMAN & THE GRASS ROOTS
BAND, CHRISINTI, Dennis Brown,
Norris Man, CECILE, and many more.
JV
PEEPSHOW III
(FatWreckChords)
From the opening with Anti-Flag where
a young lady tells them their video sucks
to the mooning that opens up The
Lawrence Arms Porno & Snuff Films
video the sense of good punk fun gets set
before each music video begins. Don’t
look for these vids on MTV as even if
they do show them it wouldn’t be in a
block of them. Too bad because they are
very entertaining. Nerf Herders’ Mr
Spock is really cool with the Star Trek
costumes and set. No Use For A Name
does a live video but with subtitles that
bring a chuckle or two. This DVD has
interviews, animation, and lots of great
tunes from one of the premier modern
punk rock labels. Of course you get an
NOFX video (photo above) with an intro
of the band playing in a dolphin pool .
Then it’s the anti-bush anthem Franco
UnAmerican. A bargain for any punk
rock fan that it totally recommended.
MTC
HICKEY & BOGGS
[MVD]
Bill Cosby and Robert Culp play two
down-on-their-luck PI’s who start off
trying to locate a missing woman and
end up embroiled in an underworld caper
to secure $400,000 from an old robbery.
104 minutes of movie with about 15
minutes worth of plot. JV
STAN KENTON
[MVD]
One of the men who renovated the bigband idiom during the Forties and
Fifties, Kenton was one of the first
bandleaders to adopt elements from
classical music and to fully embrace
Latin and south-of-the-border influences.
This DVD showcases the Stan Kenton
orchestra of the Forties and features the
hits “Eager Beaver”, “Tampico” and
“Artistry In Rhythm”. It also includes an
interesting selection of soundies from
other “modern” big bands of the day,
headed by Charlie Barnet, Les Brown
and Claude Thornhill. 17 sizzling
swingers. JV
PSYCHIC TV-Black Joy
(MVD)
Here we have 2 former video releases
packaged together on one DVD. You get
the classic Black from 1992 which
marked the tenth anniversary of Psychic
TV. The second half Joy is from 1989
and it captures a classic moment in band
history where the audience storms the
stage. From the ashes of Throbbing
Gristle comes one of the pioneers of
industrial goth music PSYCHIC TV and
this DVD captures some of their best.
DB
PUPPETS WHO KILL
The Complete First Season
[MVD]
Bill, the blood thirsty entriloquist
dummy, Buttons, sexually hyperactive
corporate mascot, Cuddles, the foulmouthed comfort doll and Rocko, the
con-artist plush puppy are all sent to Dan
Redican’s rehab center where they
proceed to stretch the boundaries of good
taste as they perpetrate one scam after
another. The humor is fairly dry but the
sheer silliness of the situations that the
misunderstood puppets find themselves
in more than makes up for it. I was
totally addicted by the second of the 13
episodes included in this 2 disc set.
Bring on season two!!! JV
ANGELA STREHLI SARAH
BROWN MARCIA BALL –
In Concert
[MVD]
Angela Strehli, Marcia Ball and Sarah
Brown are each natural musical talents in
their own right, and together they are an
unstoppable trio of Texas blues. They
whip up a storm of explosive blues-rock,
steamy swamp soul and sparkling folk
sounds. It’s the southern sound at its
best. 14 fiery offerings. JV
GEORGE SHEARING
[MVD]
The leader of one of the most popular
combos in jazz during the Fifties and
early Sixties, the blind George Shearing
was reputed for his mastery at the piano,
playing in a sophisticated style he called
“locked hands”. He was also known for
the unique sound of his quintet, which
featured the vibes and guitar tripling the
melody. Besides gathering different clips
and soundies featuring George and his
combo, this DVD also includes numbers
by Fifties swingers Mel Torme, the Slam
Stewart Trio, Slim Gallard, the Bob
Cats, Ralph Flanagan and his Orchestra
and Tony Pastor and his Orchestra. 34
swingin’ songs. JV
ROADKILL
(MVD)
A B&W film digitally restored because
there is a cameo by Joey Ramone at the
end where he asks a cabbie for a ride to
NY. Set in Northern Ontario Canada the
tale drags with adventures of Ramona.
She meets different guys along the way.
Pretty dull tills she comes along the guy
who takes roadkill and cooks it on a car
engine and eats it and so does Ramona.
It’s Disgusting. Here’s a great quote:
”Up here there is not a lot of opportunity
for social mobility either you become a
hockey player, or you turn to a life of
crime and I have weak ankles so there
you go” He is a serial killer or a
wannabe one that wants to partner with
her to keep diary I guess. It’s inane and
insane stuff. After she leaves him for the
drive in guy who is 15 who ends up
giving Ramona his fathers car. Ramona
then plots to bring all the guys she has
met together. And almost everybody gets
shot. Did I ruin it for you. Or save you
from wasting your time. Watching this
Ahhhhhhh Brown Bunny of its time! B
ULTRACHRIST!
[MVD]
A pathetic, low budget and totally
blasphemous failed attempt at humor.
The cross dressing, spandex wearing
portrayal of Jesus is both insulting and
retarded. May the entire cast and crew go
fuck themselves for eternity as their
sorry souls rot in hell. JV
WARPED TOUR ‘03
(Image Entertainment)
As we recover from 2004 Warped we
can revisit a lot of those same bands plus
others from performances captured on
the 2003 tour. You get 24 live
performances in a visual smorgasbord of
contemporary punk rock. From the pop
punk of Something Corporate and The
Used to the hardcore metal of Avenged
Sevenfold or ska punk of Less Than
Jake. Punk icons Rancid, Pennywise,
Suicide Machines. Face to Face and
Boston’s own Irish punkers Dropkick
Murphys to name a few. A great DVD
and a great price. MB
DINAH WASHINGTON
[MVD]
One of the most beloved vocalists of the
past century, Dinah was justly celebrated
for her very personal singing style that
was at home in all types of music, be it
blues, jazz, R & B or pop. She was
known for her no-nonsense,
unsentimental, yet always moving
renditions centered on the universal
subject of lost love. This DVD offers a
fascinating picture of the young Dinah
Washington, at a time when she was
mainly concentrating on jazzy, torrid R
& B numbers shortly after she had been
discovered by Lionel Hampton. The
DVD was completed with a selection of
sounds from Martha Davis, Ruth Brown,
Faye Adams, Dorothy Dandridge, Sister
Rosetta Tharpe, Mabel Lee, June
Richmond, Vanita Smythe and Edna
Mae Harris. 22 tantalizing tracks. JV
GENO WASHINGTON &
THE BLUES ?UESTION –
What's In The Pot
[MVD]
Geno joined the American Armed Forces
as a GI and was stationed in England. He
never went home. Geno made a swift
and natural progression from jumping on
stage at dances as a young GI, to
forming the RAM JAM BAND and
touring with Georgie Fame, Shane
Fenton, Rod Stewart, Long John Baldry
and Jimi Hendrix (who was allegedly his
support act although I'm pretty sure Jimi
stole the show just like he always did).
10 corny cuts featuring "Rooster",
"Lucille", and "Hand Jive". JV
nouveaux azul blau nouveaux nouveaux bleu blå
nouveaux blauwe nouveaux ceruleus novus
uli, polu nuhou
CELIA HEMKEN IS BLUE NOUVEAUX
BLUE NOUVEAUX – TEMPLE
10 Years in the making
COMING IN 2005
Redefining Progressive Rock
Ask Basement Steve – Advice worth every penny you paid for it
Dear Basement Steve: I am losing respect
for my husband. He's on disability, but I
don't think he's really disabled. He works
for his brother and gets paid under the
table. He's not the person I thought he was,
but I still love him. Should I turn him in
before he gets us both in trouble with the
government? Worried in Worchester
Dear Worried: You must be a real looker
because you're obviously dumb as a stump.
Fuck the government!!! They're too busy
shooting up towel-heads in the desert to
worry about a little middle class, or in your
case, lower class fraud. You should be
kissing your hubbies ass for having the
ambition to double dip the system. After all,
we do live in a capitalist society and two
checks a week sure sounds like more
capitol to me. Hey, if you cut back on those
bon-bons, you might even be able to afford
your own trailer in ten years.
Dear Basement Steve: What did you think of Mel Gibson's The Passion of Christ? A Religious Questioner
Questioner: Oh no you don't. I'm not falling for that. As soon as I say that the Jews did it, you'll be calling me an antiSemite.
Dear Basement Steve: I love to sunbathe, but my owner won't let me wear sunscreen. How can I enjoy being outside
without getting my nips sunburned? City Kitty
City: Gee, you're really making it hard on me to cum up with a solution for your problem on such limited info. Maybe a
few 8x10 glossies of the sensitive spots would help me get a better grasp on the situation.
Dear Basement Steve: What light does the Reformation shed on the current upsurge in spirituality, which ranges from
new age beliefs and yoga and interest in Buddhism, all the way to Christian fundamentalism? Doubting Thomas
Miller lite.
Dear Basement Steve: I fear I've lost track of my 401(k) savings. I'm 43, and make $115,000 a year. I'm putting $8,400 in
my 401k yearly, have $220,000 in home equity, and owe $275,000 on the mortgage at 4.5%. In less than 10 years, I will
receive about $400,000 from a trust fund. Could you help me with my mutual fund selections? Concerned Citizen
No but if you're buyin', I'm tryin'.
Dear One: Why don't you write any more? I asked
Madam Woo and she says another has put a spell on you
that we can break, but it will cost $75. Are you worth it?
Love, Martha
Martha: The truth of the situation is, I can't write
unless I'm shit faced and since funds have been a little
tight thanks to the cheap pricks here at Stubble, the
liquor cabinet is bare. If you just send me $50, I can
restock the shelves, you save $25 and everybody is
happy. Well, everybody except for Madam Woo that is
but with a name like that, I'm sure she can recoup her
losses in about 30 minutes on her favorite street corner.
STUBBLE accepts no responsibility for using advice by Basement Steve. If you choose to follow his advice you must accept
the risk of doing so. Ed.
STUBBLE MUSICZINE
17 Cedar Cliff Terr
Medford, MA 02155
www.stubblemusiczine.com
See You next Issue, It’s Time For My NAP!
-Lazer Beam
I killed the Ramones. Really I did. I love to kill.
TOM JONES
North Shore Music Theater
Beverly MA June 3rd 2004
NSMT performed Henry Fielding's classic, bawdy musical
"Tom Jones". The play of course is not to be confused with the
famous Welsh Singer Tom Jones. There was a hilarious few
minutes of playing the singer's song, then abruptly halted to
correct the announcer of the mistake. The musical chronicles
the adventures of a lad born of illegitimate heritage with a
weakness for beautiful lasses named Tom Jones, played by the
boyishly handsome David Burnham. Tom's affairs get him
into trouble at home but also with Sophia played by the
talented and adorable Angela Gaylor. Though Tom is in love
with Sophia, his healthy passions lead him astray. The North
Shore Theater's musical director George Stiles does a great job
creating great musical pieces, with the score lyrics are
superbly written by Paul Leigh. Anchored by a great orchestra
and superb singing by the cast, the audience is treated to an
energetic, exciting, and charming performance. Coupled with
the titillating see through hoop skirts worn by the cast were
sexy and seductive. Costume designer Pamela Scofield's
colorful costumes are a sensation for the eyes. Burnham shines
as the charming and adorable rake who affects all females to
simper and lust after him in his wake. Including the pretty
Sophia, his neighbor's daughter whom her poor father has
higher aspirations than the poor Tom lacking noble birth.
Another notable performance is by Jeremy Webb as the
scheming and jealous Blifil. Blifil's ghoulish pale pallor and
dark clothing accentuated his vampirish appearance. Overall,
the play is wonderful charged with charm, energy and
enthusiasm! There were some lagging moments which other
high points made up for them. Another feather in the cap for
the North Shore Theater for another excellent performance. AING