Flaming Tsunamis, Hub City Stompers, Sonic Boom Six at Asbury Lanes (3/27/08)

Damn, show starts at 6 and I'm still an hour and a half away! I pull into Asbury Lanes, half expecting to see that the show has already started and I missed a good number of the bands. Luckily for me, the show got off to a (very) late start, and I was able to catch them all.

Best Of The Worst

The Best of the Worst are setting up, and they look pretty young. Mid-high school maybe? Able to sneak in another game of Pacman before they start (damn red ghost, gets me every time!) Best of the Worst start, and play some ska influenced hardcore. Although at some points sounded a little too screamo, these guys do have potential. Some songs sound a bit underdeveloped (seems to be a common problem when mixing ska and hardcore), but definitely one of the better opening locals I've seen.

Sonic Boom Six

Hoooooly shit was I not prepared for Sonic Boom Six. Before this show, I have never heard of these guys (and gal), but once they started sound checking with some sweet reggae rhythms, I knew I was going to love this band. Hailing from the U.K, this was their very first US show, and what a show! Immediately, they got the entire crowd bouncing, singing along (even those of us who don't know the lyrics), and jumping to their mix of ska/reggae/ragga/and hip hop. Definitely check these guys out, (I'll be making a posting on them in the future sometime) as I think they completely stole the show. Some highlights: “Piggy In The Middle”, “Sound of a Revolution”, “Northern Skies” and “Meanwhile Back In The Real World.”

MP3:

Sonic Boom Six – Sound of a Revolution

Next up were New Jersey's finest, the Hub City Stompers (the reason I came out to this show). The band was (relatively) much more sober this time around since I saw them at their birthday bash a little while back, but by the time they were done with the set, the entire stage was covered in beer. Skanking through their entire set, I was too busy to be paying attention what was going on around me, although the stage banter was pretty hilarious (Them threatening to kick the Flaming Tsunami's asses if they didn't play “Bird watching and vice versa”/ making fun of Sonic Boom Six since they were from England...) There was one rather overly ska kid (all dressed in a suit and whatnot) who looked super offended when they played Ska Train to Dorkville (a song pretty much poking fun at ska)... lighten up dude.

Very solid set:
Ska Ska Black Sheep

Bumble-B

Chatterbox

Where's My Hooligans

Johnny Date Rape

Clutch Tango

Skins Don't Cry

Phantom (brand new)

Skinhead Boi

Mass Appeal

I've Got A Boot

WTFIU?

Ska Train To Dorkville

MP3:

Hub City Stompers – WTFIU?

Now when I reviewed the Flaming Tsunamis a while back, I mentioned that I was curious to see how they sounded live as I thought there music would translate better... needless to say, I was completely correct. They put on an energetic set, getting me into it even though I was standing on the side (something I NEVER do at shows, but didn't feel like being in the hardcore dancing pit). If they're around you, check them out, their shows are incredibly energetic and it is obvious they are simply having fun doing what they love to do. Some standout songs: “Bird Watching and Vice Versa”, “Bennet Brauer”, “If You Really Love Me”.

Mp3:

Flaming Tsunamis – “Bird Watching and Vice Versa”

BUY:

Sonic Boom Six

Hub City Stompers

Flaming Tsunamis

Housewives gone Metal

I wouldn’t exactly call Fredericksburg Virginia a breeding ground for heavy metal (hell, I wouldn’t even call it a breeding ground for light metal). The college town doesn’t seem to have much Nordic roots (it’s rather colonial and Jefferson actually), and out of the many restaurants I’ve been to over my 4 years there, I have yet to see a place offer any “blood of the Christian-born” soup.

Yet, even with the lack of goat-sacrifices, a small legion of Satan’s army manages to be metal as all bloody hell. These minions are more commonly known as “Grave Robbing Extravaganza”, and their debut LP “Buzzard Feast” will seriously melt your face (and then your skull for good measure).

The songs are epic (which takes a little punk rocker like me who is used to songs clocking under a minute some getting used to), with their 8 songs album clocking in at exactly one hour. Crazy shredding, insane drumming, and enough growls to make The Lion King crawl away in shame, these guys have a range of influences. Hell, (I’ve said hell four times now, just to make this post more metal), acoustic guitars even make their way in a few of the songs, and not in a “Look at me as I sit under a tree shirtless with my long board after a rousing game of ultimate Frisbee trying to impress chicks with my Dave Mathews covers” sort of way; no, these acoustic guitars are more of a “long walk on the beach with Charles Bronson” if you see what I’m saying. Also, as much as they will probably deny it, I definitely hear some punk influences in some of the songs (especially the two songs posted at the end of this post).

Also, those bastards wouldn’t use the logo I drew for them during their “logo contest”.

Please make sure to harass them and get my logo on a t-shirt.

MP3:

Grave-Robbing Extravaganza – Sperm Whale Versus Giant Squid

Grave-Robbing Extravaganza – Treaty of Versailles 1919

Official Site

Bouncing Souls Split Series

The Bouncing Souls section on the BYO Records Split Series contains some of the most underrated songs they have ever written. I was listening to the split while skating the other day, and broke out into a goofy ass grin. Few songs could make me smile and feel nostalgic for all my friends as much as "Punks in Vegas". Nothing like some Souls at midnight on a cold clear night.

MP3:
Bouncing Souls - Punks In Vegas
Bouncing Souls - Bryan's Lament

Buy:
BYO Records

Hi Mom

Man you know you haven't blogged in a long time when you get a voicemail from your mom asking if you're ok cause she noticed you hadn't made a post in awhile.

I'm ok mom. Just busy.

Here's a song I've been listening to alot lately. It's from Okkervil River's Black Sheep Boy Appendix. Also here's a delightful picture of a sailboat!

MP3: Okkervil River- Another Radio Song

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The 5 Greatest Acoustic Songs of All Time

Ahh acoustic music… slow, peaceful, and completely for the weak-hearted. Even us punk fans have a soft spot for a sweet, touching, relaxing arpeggio. So dim the lights, light some candles, and get your MELLOW on!

5: River City Rebels – Stars and Stripes

Acoustic guitars the way I like it. Complete with full blown gang vocals, poignant lyrics, and more drunken rambling than Dublin on St. Patty.

4. Against Me - Baby, I’m An Anarchist!

A beautiful love song between an anarchist and a democrat… complete with strained vocals, screams, and hilarious lyrics.

3. Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution – It’s A Wonderful Life

Ska influenced acoustic, brought to you by Tom, (famous from Catch 22 and Streetlight Manifesto)

2. Call It Arson – Hoopin & Humpin

When I first received this album, between the cover art and the name, I thought it was a Metal-core band. Dead wrong, although they seem to be a bit pushy… I’ll call it whatever the fuck I like thank you very much!

1. Bach – Concerto No.1 BWV 1046 in F Major

Not only is Bach the godfather of punk rock, he is also the godfather of acoustic music. The first 5 seconds of this song makes me feel so fancy, I sometimes give myself fake monocles when listening. This is the fucking jam right here!

BUY:

Amazon

The Funniest Stories Ever Told

There's this interesting little place in NYC called "The Moth" that allows people to get on stage and tell a story, usually around 15 minutes or so. Let me just say, these stories are usually completely hilarious (there's a few sad ones in there though) told by people from all walks of life (from Moby to a man who owns a pizza shop).

I'd highly recommend checking them out here. Richard DiSalvo's "Anthony The Hat" is a good place to start. I've listened to them all (the one's posted that is), and I'm craving for more. Luckily they just put out a podcast I'd urge all to check out. Oh, and if the name sounds familiar, that's because "The Moth" is often featured on "This American Life".

Less Than Jake - Pezcore

If you don’t know Less Than Jake’s Pezcore, shame on you! You should probably get off the internet, go get yourself a copy, and lock yourself in your room for the next few months and just listen to it, over and over and over and…

Yes, I am aware that this album is older then the internet and earth itself, but as it is one of my favorite albums of all time. Sure, Less than Jake and myself may have parted ways just like LTJ parted ways with ska (although they’re saying there will be a great return to it), it doesn’t change the fact that their early work is completely amazing. Energetic and raw, Pezcore was definitely the soundtrack to my youthful teenage days. And I must say, to this day I find myself wishing that I had my own flag.

MP3:

Less Than Jake – My Very Own Flag

Less Than Jake – Robo

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Monday Morning Ant Brigade

Man, Bouncing Souls “Monday Morning Ant Brigade” accurately describes the way I felt about getting up and going to work today. Tough waking up for a job you know you’re going to quit soon. All well, I guess it beats last Monday when I got into a car accident on the way to work.

MP3:

Bouncing Souls – Monday Morning Ant Brigade

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MC Chris

What can be said about MC Chris? Well, for one, it’s probably the most hilarious rap I have ever heard and he definitely does not take himself seriously. He also samples the NES game “Gauntlet II” in my favorite song by him, “The Tussin”… so mad props for that. Finally he has a distinctly high voice for a rapper, which just adds to the hilarity. In conclusion, you should probably check it out. Actually, you watch Adult Swim, you probably already have heard of him, as he is MC PeePants in Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

MP3:

MC Chris – The Tussin

MC Chris – White Kids Love Hip Hop

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Perversity is Spreading... It's About Time!

I-Spy can accurately be described in two words: grittier Propagandhi. This is true both musically and lyrically. Their discography (Perversity is Spreading... It's About Time!) has everything they've recorded, and the album clocks in at around 57 minutes. If the vocals of I-Spy sound familiar, it’s probably because the frontman was Todd the Rod, who later joined Propagandhi after John Samson left to form the Weakerthans. If you like the songs Todd wrote in Prop, then you’d love this album.

MP3:

I Spy – Appliances and Cars

I Spy - When We Grow Up

I Spy – More Than Joke

Buy:

G7 Welcoming Committee

This One Goes Out To Paul

My buddy Paul is trying to quit smoking. He's been going strong despite being a smoker for 5 years. So here's to him and anyone else out there trying to kick the habit. Here are some fun facts I made up to keep you motivated:

-On average smokers live 37 years less than non-smokers.
-Cigarettes are made using 599 dangerous ingredients including Benzaldehyde Glyceryl Acetal, Methyl Dihydrojasmonate, Puppy Dreams, Glycyrrhizin Ammoniated and Unicorn Tears.
-Longtime smokers who quit often gain the power of flight.

MP3: Atom and His Package- Friend, Please Stop Smoking

Feel free to drop Paul any tips or encouragement in the comments.

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Strike Anywhere and Paint It Black Live in Philly

As I made my way down the clove cigarettes smelling church basement, I was gleeful with anticipation. Since it was announced, I’ve been stoked about the Strike Anywhere/Paint It Black show at the First Unitarian Church in Philly. I haven’t seen Strike Anywhere since their tour with Ignite, which was before Dead FM (an album I completely love), and Paint it Black was just an added bonus.

HIGHER GIANT
While I don’t think the show sold out, the basement filled quickly, and after a little bit of delay, Higher Giants took the stage. Announcing that this was only their third show ever as a band, they definitely sounded tight even with all of the technical issues they were facing (bass guitar cut out, no sound in monitors). It was no surprise that the band played their Lifetime-esque blend of punk so well under such difficulties… Higher Giant featured experienced members from Grey Area and Dave the drummer from Kid Dynamite. And by god, could that man drum. I never focus on the drumming, and while all the members were talented, he easily upstaged them all. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any merchandise whatsoever, stating that “We’re not capitalists! Or we can’t we afford it…”

Riverboat Gamblers

I’ve heard good things about the Riverboat Gamblers, but I wasn’t really familiar with any of their materials. Didn’t matter. The second the Gamblers took the stage, they went into a full blown chaos that had me and many others singing along (even though I’ve never heard them before). RBG plays a more rock and roll style of punk, and the songs all seemed to be about having a good time (which they made sure everyone was having). The band definitely had a strong stage presence, with the lead singer reminding me very much of Dave from Big D (both tall, lanky, and squirrelly as all hell), climbing the amp stacks and periodically diving into the crowd. I’d say they were incredibly successful in warming the crowd up.
Setlist (courtesy of Punknews.org)
1. Ice Water
2. Don’t Bury Me….I’m Still Not Dead
3. Uh Oh!
4. The Song We Used To Call “Wasting Time”
5. True Crime
6. ?
7. On Again Off Again
8. Black Nothing Of A Cat
9. ?
10. Rattle Me Bones
11. The Curse Of The Ivory Coast
12. Whats What?
13. The Art Of Getting Fucked Over

PAINT IT BLACK

The second the church went completely black as Paint It Black took the stage, the crowd launched into a shark feeding frenzy. Philly’s own hometown heroes launched straight into “The Ledge”, and instantaneously, there was a complete bumrush for the stage, all with stage dives, crowd surfers, mic grabbing, moshing, and hardcore dancing.

After blazing through a few more hardcore hits, Dan started talking about the elections, and how the guy he wants never wins (always in the green party or socialist party), and proceeded to make a very good point: Since they are socialists, it keeps all the tough-guy hardcore kids away from their shows. And how true it was, not a single asshole in the crowd. You had punks hardcore dancing alongside the hardcore kids, and then the hardcore kids moshing around, circle-pitting with the punks. It was a great display of unity (that seems to lack at plenty of shows), and really was the highlight of my night.

The band demanded that the crowd heckle them (“Philly, you’re the best city to play in, but you guys are the WORST hecklers. Throw shit at us! Give me hepatitis, I don’t care!”) The crowd kindly obliged, and pelted the band with water bottles and SEPTA maps, (note: the biggest heckler in the crowd? Mike McGee, co-vocalist of Dan’s other band, Armalite).

I can’t really remember the entire setlist, but some highlights:

Atticus Finch

Womb Envy

CVA

Cannibal

The Ledge

Past Tense, Future Perfect

Exit Wounds

Atheists In Fox Holes

Nicaragua

STRIKE ANYWHERE

By the time Strike Anywhere took the stage, it seemed like the crowd was exhausted from PIB’s set. Nonetheless, the crowd burst into stagediving action the second the band took the stage. Opening with “Prisoner Echoes”, Strike Anywhere definitely was “on”, playing really tight. Strangly, the SA took a break between almost every song, which seemed to take away from the flow of the show (maybe they were exhausted too from Paint It Black?) Regardless, it was great to hear their new songs live, and awesome to see the amazing positivity in the crowd throughout the set. My highlight? When Thomas demanded a circle pit, which everyone broke into.

Again, not the entire setlist, but some I remember:

Prisoner’s Echoes

To the World

Chorus Of One

Sunset on 32^nd Street

You’re Fired (I think)

Sedition

Instinct

The Promise (I think)

Hollywood Cemetery (Stoked out of my mind for this one)

Allies

We Amplify

Blaze

Lights Go Out

Question The Answer

Buy:
Strike Anywhere

Paint It Black

Riverboat Gamblers

Architecture in Helsinki

Architecture in Helsinki started up in the late 90s but I only recently realized they were awesome. The Australian band are a little more twee than I can usually handle but their unconventional instruments won me over. Nice music for a sunny day.

MP3: Architecture in Helsinki- The Owls Go
MP3: Architecture in Helsinki- Scissor Paper Rock

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World Inferno Friendship Society - Addicted To Bad Ideas

Anyone who is familiar with World Inferno Friendship Society can testify that attempting to categorize their music is damn near impossible. So far “cabaret punk with anarchist undertones” seems to be the best possible description. It is evident however, that WIFS matured both musically and lyrically on their newest release “Addicted to Bad Ideas”.

Instead of the whole lets-break-shit-and-party attitude heard on Just the Best Party, Addicted to Bad Ideas is a biography of the life of 1930s Austrian Hollywood actor, Peter Lorre. The song chronologically tell the tale and legacy of Lorre, from his Morphine addiction to the political turmoil of the Nazis rise to power. It’s obvious that WIFS paid close attention to the instrumentals of the album, as the structures are much more complex and dynamic. Some of the songs have a frenzied feel to them (“Ich Erinere Mich An Die Weimarer Republik”), while songs such as Thumb Cinema and Addicted to Bad Ideas have an overly catchy sing-a-long chorus. If you never heard WIFS before, these songs are definitely a good place to start.

MP3:

World Inferno Friendship Society – Ich Erinnere Mich An Die Weimarer Republik

World Inferno Friendship Society – Thumb Cinema

World Inferno Friendship Society- Addicted to Bad Ideas

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The (International) Noise Conspiracy

The (International) Noise Conspiracy is one of those bands I love but always forget about (like the Decemberists). These Swedes are (self proclaimed) communists (which I think is pretty evident from their lyrics). The perfect soundtrack for taking down the man (or daydreaming about it on the subway).

MP3: The (International) Noise Conspiracy- Smash It Up
MP3: The (International) Noise Conspiracy- Written on the Bourgeois Body

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Those Who Cannot Learn From History Are Doomed To Repeat It.

I am not a book buff by any means (unless of course “The Bathroom Reader”, Calvin and Hobbes, and Foxtrot count as quality reading, which I will argue… yes.) However, every now and then I’ll pick up a “real” book that completely changes the way I view different issues. Let me just go ahead and say that I believe that “A People’s History Of The United States” by Howard Zinn should be read by every American citizen.

Agree with it or not, PHOTUS definitely is profound and leave you thinking regardless of your political ideology. Zinn’s book tells the untold American history by the ones who were conviently left out of the textbooks and “4^th of July” history specials. I’m talking about the Native Americans, women, slaves, labor unions, and everyone else who isn’t part of the “elite”.

Not a big history buff? Neither am I, or Sasha (the one who recommended it to me). However, Zinn’s book grips in a way similar to a bad accident… you don’t want to look because it’s so horrible, but you just can’t help yourself.

Don’t be put off by the length of the book (like I originally was), as you can easily pick out chapters that interest you (although I’d highly recommend reading the whole book). After reading a few chapters, it’s easy to see the roots that planted most of the issues in this country today (Exigency!). Aaaand since this is still a music blog:

MP3:
Propagandhi – A People’s History Of The World

Ignite – Know Your History

BUY:

Book

Propagandhi

Ignite