Totally Michael Live In Philly 6/29/09

Last night, I picked up a few unsuspecting friends, and headed out to West Philly's Danger Danger Gallery to see housewives favorite Totally Michael. There were only two bands on the bill, so I was pretty stoked to see the new king of pop play a longer set than usual... Although that didn't really happen (lots of issues), the few songs he did play were awesome.

When I got there at 9, I was afraid I missed the bands since the show started at 8. Turns out, the bands didn't show up yet, as they got stuck in crazy Brooklyn traffic. Unfortunately, the show had to be over by 11 for noise complaint reasons, and Prizzy Prizzy Please didn't even start until about 9:45. (And I was out eating cupcakes... sorry Prizzy)

There were only about 20 people at the show, and when Totally Michael came on, it was 10:40. Apparently, his iPod also got ruined, and he was having some troubles with his laptop, so there were some issues getting a playlist going. Finally though, he broke out into a cover of the YMCA, and then straight into "Death Hill". Myself and a few others in the crowd got the tiny dance party going that didn't let up for the rest of the night.

I'm dissapointed that the set was so short, but those 5 songs he played, they were tight as usual. Just gives him an excuse to come back to Philly really soon.

Setlist:
-Death Hill (Over And Over)
-Shout Out
-Slow Jam
-Winona
-Casual Satisfaction

MP3:
Totally Michael - Casual Satisfaction

Totally Awesome:
Interview with Totally Michael
Totally Michael Debut
Totally Michael and Cerebal Ballzy Live (3/29/09)

Buy:
Totally Michael

I Got 99 Problems But Moving Ain't One (A Mix!)

Pretty sure my boxes are packed with this.

Keeping up with the tradition I unknowingly started for myself back in '05... I apparently move out of my apartment every year. All damn weekend, it's been a party of packing, lifting heavy crap, and complaining that my girlfriend has too much stuff. Although when I pack, it gets kind of dangerous. I don't believe in boxes, and throw everything (and I mean everything) into plastic bags: including fragile kitchen glasses. If they break? Fuck em, drinking from broken glass toughens you up.

On the plus side: I did see Bedouin Soundclash on Friday, so I'll have a posting on that soon. I also am going to see Totally Michael tonight (assuming I can find enough quarters to pay the cover, as I get my paycheck tomorrow... being paid once a month is aweeeeesome...)

MP3:
Bouncing Souls – Apartment 5F
Atom and his Package - Posession (Not The One By Danzig)
Lawrence Arms - The First Eviction Notice

More Moving Mixes:
Moving Strife '08
Apparently, I didn't make a mix for 07, so here's one about racist yuppies.

Buy:
Interpunk
Smartpunk

Holy Crapballs, Michael Jackson was Human? (A Mix!)

Michael Jackson Chilling With The Reagans...

A world without Michael Jackson is a better world indeed, just ask the world's little boys who collectively breathed a sigh of relief last night. No more sleepovers! No more babies hanging from windows! But in all seriousness, I don't think he's actually dead. I've seen the Thriller music video, he'll be back... Making splits with Tu-Pac.

MP3:
The Unseen - Beat It
Me First And The Gimme Gimmes - Ben
Me First And The Gimme Gimmes - I'll Be There

More Mixes:
Holy Crap Iran (A Mix!)
Go! Go! Go Me, It's Your Birfday (A Mix!)
Bike Races, Drunk Fests and Racist Yuppies (A Mix!)
You Sick Of Your Job? (A Mix!)

Buy:
Interpunk
Smartpunk

Swallowing Sh*t - Anthology (For fans of Some Girls, Ceremony, Spazz)

Straight up Winnipeg grind-core! Featuring Todd from Propagandhi and Cory from Malefaction, Swallowing Shit has a bit of an interesting history. Apparently, as they were making a name for themselves and having their popularity increase in the Winnipeg punk scene, some of the city's more conservative residents learned about their song "Pro-Abortion, Anti-Christ".

Trying to figure out how to stop Swallowing Shit from satanically brainwashing their children, the Christians would picket outside of their shows, and finally got city council to resurrect an outdated and rarely used ordinance prohibiting any challenges to the church, successfully banning Swallowing Shit from playing within Winnipeg city limits.

Regardless about their history, Swallowing Shit is one of the best grind-core bands that ever existed, and Anthology is pretty much everything they ever recorded. With 21 songs on 16 tracks finishing under 18 minutes, song titles like "Lyrics That Will Offend The Honkeys" and "Burn Winnipeg To The Fucking Ground"... I think you pretty much know what to expect.

MP3:
Swallowing Shit - If Assholes Could Fly, This Place Would Be An Airport
Swallowing Shit - Christian Metal = Nazi Reggae

Anthology (Of Housewives Articles):
Housewives Interview Propagandhi
Ceremony
Propagandhi - Supporting Caste

Buy:
G7 Welcoming Committee

Teen Idles - Minor Disturbance (For fans of Minor Threat, State of Alert, Youth Brigade)

Before there was a Minor Threat, there was a Minor Disturbance (EP). Formed back in 1978 when Ian Mackaye (bass) met Jeff Nelson (vocals) (a classmate of his who was setting off a pipe bomb). This group of teenagers were one of the most influential bands in shaping 1980s hardcore.

Ok, so the EP was a precursor to some major bands, what about the actual music? Musically, the band was harsh, and similar to Minor Threat songs such as "Bottled Violence" and "Straight Edge". Minor Disturbance is really short, with 8 songs ending in about 9 and a half minutes.

Definitely check out if you're a fan of early 80s hardcore, and if you want to learn more about Ian Mackaye's history... this was his starting point.

MP3:
Teen Idles - Get Up And Go
Teen Idles - Teen Idles

Read These Now or Pay The Price:
Scenester 101: Your 10 step guide to becoming a Hardcore Kid
Minor Threat
Embrace (Ian's Band After Minor Threat)
Token Entry
Ceremony - Still Nothing Moves You (face melting hardcore)

Buy:
Dischord

Blink 182 - They Came To Conquer...Uranus (For fans of Green Day, NOFX, Screeching Weasel)

Lately, there's been a lot of hubbub, hooplah, and other words you haven't heard since people were still doing the Charleston about Blink 182. While I don't care too much (or at all really...) about their reunion or any album after "Dude Ranch", all the news did successfully make me go back and to listen to their older stuff that I own.

One of my favorite, yet little known releases by Blink was a 3 song EP called "They Came To Conquer...Uranus". The EP was released back in 1995 (right after Chesire Cat), and two of the songs can only be found on this EP, while the other was rerecorded for Dude Ranch.

Solid pop-punk before Blink-182's music became all over produced and went after the luxorious 11 year old pre-teen market. Give it a listen, you may be surprised.

MP3:
Blink 182 - Zulu

They Came To Conquer... The Housewives:
The only good Saves the Day Album
Some band about Blinking and 182.
The Lillingtons - The Too Late Show
Teenage Bottlerocket - Another Way

Buy:
Amazon

Holy Crap Iran (A Mix!)

Photo By: shahram sharif

Wow, what's been going on in Iran is completely insane since the elections. If you just so happen to be living under a rock for the past week or so here's a summary: People voted, election seems rigged, people are fucking pissed and are taking to the streets.

All I have to say, is that I'm proud of our Iranian brothers and sisters for standing up against injustice in their country, even when innocent people are getting shot and killed around them, they aren't backing down.


MP3:
Planet Smashers - Skah of Iran
Strike Anywhere - Riot of Words
Beans - Let's Riot

More mixes:
Birthday Mix
Tribute To All You Bored At Work Or School
Monday Morning Ant Brigade
Housewives Guide To Getting Through An Interview Without Being Bamboozled

Buy:
Interpunk
Smartpunk

Paint it Black - Amnesia (New EP!)

Paint it Black has gotten it backwards: most hardcore bands release a handful of EPs before releasing one or two full lengths and calling it a day. With three full albums already under their belt, it's kind of odd to see Paint it Black jump to the 7-inch format. But hey, if it's going to get me more Paint it Black in the shortest amount of time, I'm not complaining.

Put short, "Amnesia" fucking dominates. With 5 songs in about 10 minutes (with one song 3:30 in length, a new record for the band!), it's easy to ask "what the hell just happened" by the end.

The opening track "Salem" is a rough-around-the-edges (and straight to the core) song that reminds me a bit of "We Will Not" or "Gravity Wins" without the melodic breakdowns. The next 4 songs are much more melodic, but in a much more low key way (you won't find any "Memorial Day" on this EP).

Their next EP is set to be released in August on Fat Wreck (seriously...), which contains songs from the same recording session, so I'll be looking forward to those.

MP3:
Paint it Black - Amnesia

Sweet! More Articles:
Western Addiction - Cognicide
Scenester 101: How to Be Hardcore in 10 Easy Steps!
Gorilla Biscuits
Ten Yard Fight
Rise Against's Brand Spankin' New 7"

Buy:
Bridge 9

Ceremony - Still Nothing Moves You (For fans of Some Girls, Converge, Blacklisted)

As I mentioned on Monday, I saw Ceremony for the first time on Friday night, was completely impressed, although I had my doubts how their ferocious grindcore would translate on album. After listening to 2008 release "Still Nothing Moves You", I can say "pretty fucking well" with confidence.

I can't listen to many grind influenced albums all the way through without getting bored (greeeat, you're heavy and like noise, you're different. I get the fucking point) but I can listen to Ceremony's grind/hardcore over and over again.

Pulling influences from bands such as Some Girls and Converge, "Still Nothing Moves You" is a must hardcore album for people who prefer their music to resemble a jackhammer to the face.

MP3:
Ceremony - He-god-Has Favored Our Undertakings
Ceremony - Eraser Making Its Way Its Only Job

Still Housewives Moves You:
Scenester 101: How to Be Hardcore in 10 Easy Steps!
Paint It Black w/ Ceremony Live
Ten Yard Fight

Buy:
Bridge 9 Records

Go! Go! Go Me, It's Your Birfday (A Mix!)

Soooo... tomorrow, I turn the big two four (and it seriously feels like yesterday last time I put a birthday mix up for myself.) I figure I post today since I'm presumably busy tomorrow (cutting work, going to the beach suckas.... if it doesn't rain.)

It's been an interesting year, and I remember when I was turning 23 I thought I was getting old (I was so young and naive back then), but now... I don't feel old at all.

MP3:

Groovie Ghoulies – Happy Birthday

The Vandals – Happy Birthday To Me

The Vandals – Bad Birthday Bash

Atom and His Package – Happy Birthday General

Big D And The Kids Table – Running Young

7 Seconds – Young ‘Til I Die

Big D And The Kids Table – Good Luck

Bouncing Souls – Born Free

Low Budgets – Born Before The Internet

Kid Dynamite - Birthday

NOFX – New Happy Birthday Song

More Mixes:
Tribute To All You Bored At Work Or School
Monday Morning Ant Brigade
Housewives Guide To Getting Through An Interview Without Being Bamboozled

Buy:
Interpunk
Smartpunk

Paint It Black w/ Ceremony (Live in Philly 5/12/09)

On Friday night, I headed down to the Broad Street Ministries basement to catch my Philly favorite hardcore band: Paint It Black. Since I didn't want to pay for parking, I parked ridiculously far away, so I missed all the bands (Crime in Stereo, Title Fight, Ardmore Assualt) except the last two. Let me just add: that church basement was the hottest venue ever (seriously, hotter than the First Unitarian Church for you Philly cats).

Ceremony:
What the hell just happened? Grindcore/hardcore in the veins of Some Girls, these Northern Bay destroyers had plenty of hardcore dancers and stage dives. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with their music (so I don't know their set), but after seeing them, I picked up a few albums to check out. Go see them live if they come around near you.

Paint It Black:
Ahh yes... Paint It Black. Last time they had a hometown show, it was with Propagandhi and there were baricades blocking the stage (baricade+Paint It Black=Just No), so I was pretty pumped to do some stage diving.

Opening with "Salem" (off of their new EP), the crowd was relatively calm due to the fact nobody knew the words (besides Dan Yemin). When they broke into their next song, that's when shit hit the fan: constant stage dives, mic grabs, the usual.

After the show, I wrote down the songs they played, but unfortunately I lost that list, so this is what they played from what I can remember (missing a bunch, no order):

-Salem
-Cannibal
-Womb Envy
-Atticus Finch
-CVA
-Pink Slip
-Exit Wounds
-The New Brutality (I think)
-Nicaragua
-The Ledge
-We Will Not
-Past Tense Future Perfect
-A bunch off their new EP
-Memorial Day

MP3:
Paint It Black - Memorial Day

Paint it Housewives:
Some videos from the Paint it Black street show.
Propagandhi w/ Paint It Black (with Setlist!)
The Steal - Bright Grey (For fans of Kid Dynamite, Paint it Black, Gorilla Biscuits)

Buy:
Paint it Black Myspace

Western Addiction - Cognicide (For fans of Minor Threat, Paint It Black, New Mexican Disaster Squad)

2003, four dudes working at Fat Wreck Chords in San Francisco take a look around the music community there and see an over abundance of pop-punk and emo, and very little hardcore punk. Deciding to do something about that, Western Addiction was formed.

Playing no bullshit hardcore punk in the veins of Paint It Black and New Mexican Disaster Squad, "Cognicide" is a complete punk rock assault with shit tons of 80's hardcore thrown in for good measure. Pissed and political, "Cognicide" keeps with tradition and finishes in just 22 minutes.

A must for any hardcore fan.

MP3:
Western Addiction - Mailer, Meet Jim
Western Addiction - It's Funny, I Don't Like A Winner

Housewives Addiction:
Scenester 101: How to Be Hardcore in 10 Easy Steps!
Gorilla Biscuits
Ten Yard Fight
Rise Against's Brand Spankin' New 7" (Back to their old sound!)
Ensign - Direction Of Things To Come

Buy:
Fat Wreck

Westbound Train - Come and Get It (For fans of The Slackers, The Specials, Hepcat)

If I had to sum up Westbound Train's 2009 release "Come and Get It" in three words, those words would be "ska with soul". Luckily, I don't have only have a 3 word limit.

Having a wide array of instrumentation at their disposal, Westbound Train hits us doo-wop, R & B, Motown-influenced ska without ever turning their back on the upstrokes.

Westbound Train sounds a bit like if The Slackers grew up in 1960s Detroit. Obi's voice is incredibly versatile and passionate, with the best example being "The Runaround". Throughout the album the guitars constantly provide a rocksteady rhythm while the horns and organ drive the songs. Older fans may not like the fact that Westbound Train is diving headfirst into uncharted Soul territory, but the band makes sure to keep their checkered flag waving high.

MP3:
Westbound Train - Please Forgive Me
Westbound Train - Runaround

Eastbound Articles:
The Slackers - Self Medication
King Django - Roots Tonic
Ruder Than You - Big Step

Buy:
Hell Cat

The Know How - Now In Technicolor (For fans of Big D and the Kid's Table, Mustard Plug, Arrogant Sons of Bitches)

I've read reviews of ska-punk The Know How's third (and final) full length album "Now In Technicolor", and the reviews claimed that the songs lacked any sort of energy. I have no idea what the fuck they're talking about: there are a lot of phrases that can be used to describe "Now In Technicolor", "lacking energy" is not one of them.

Easily their best album, The Know How mixes energetic ska punk with catchy horns and a Moog Synthesizer. Breaking up in 2007, I was lucky enough to catch them twice over the years. Easily one of the more energetic bands live, and on record.

MP3:
The Know How – Better Way
The Know How – Chemistry

Housewives Now In Technicolor:
Sonic Boom Six - City Of Thieves (Brand Spankin New 2009 Release)
Hub City Stompers - Ska Ska Black Sheep
Bomb The Music Industry - Scrambles

Buy:
Stomp Records

The Lillingtons - Too Late Show (For fans of Teenage Bottlerocket, The Copyrights, The Ramones)

You dig Teenage Bottlerocket? Well who doesn't these days? Unfortunately, they only have three full length albums, so thank god for The Lillingtons.

Formed back in 1995, The Lillingtons were Kody Templeman's (Teenage Bottlerocket) earlier band, and the influences between the two bands show. Newcastle Wymoning's Lillingtons sound exactly like Teenage Bottlerocket, if Bottlerocket were to sing about the world ending in various and often hilarious situations (I hate to keep drawing comparisions to TB, but seriously, take a listen, it's unavoidable.)

On their final release "The Too Late Show", we've got earth ending by martian attack, zombies, soviets, and zombie soviets. I'm glad I discovered this little gem in punk rock to hold me over to the next Teenage Bottlerocket release.

MP3:
The Lillingtons - Do It U.S.S.R

The Too Late Housewives:
Teenage Bottlerocket - Another Way
The Copyrights
The High School Dropouts
The Vapids - Most Underrated Ramones-Esque Band Around
Teenage Bottlerocket - Warning Device

Buy:
Interpunk

Bike Races, Drunk Fests and Racist Yuppies (A Mix!)

So this weekend, my entire neighborhood was shut down for a massive bike race that comes through every year. Since my neighborhood consists mostly of young 20 something year olds, everyone uses it as an excuse to get completely wasted. People were drinking in the middle of the street with cops turning a blind eye to the festivities. I don't drink but I still went out to catch the fun.

As I was chilling with some people I knew, and this 26ish year old yuppie girl that was with us, started going off about how clean her neighborhood is... and I quote: "No niggers live there... oops I'm sorry, Negroes". She then proceeded to bitch about how they trashed the place after the bike race.

Uhh... What the fuck? First off, it was dumb fucking yuppies like yourself that trashed the place with their beer cans after the event. Second off, people around my age with educations are still this ignorant? The dumb fuck.

God I hate people... needless to say, I just left right then and there to hang out by myself (no company is better than bad company).

MP3:
Bomb The Music Industry - Bike Test 1 2 3
SNFU - Drunk On A Bike
Against All Authority - No Reason

More Moron Yuppies In My Neighborhood:
Dumbass Yuppies Think I'm Trying To Break Into Their Shitty Car
Drunken Yuppies Breaking Into My House Mix

Buy:
Interpunk
Smartpunk

The Deviates - My Life (For fans of Pennywise, NOFX, Satanic Surfers)

Skate punk* is usually a genre that doesn't hold my attention for long. It seems like every 90's Southern California skate punk band are just trying to be like Pennywise or Bad Religion...(yawn). Sure, I like the songs, but the music is never something that sticks with me.

Exception to the rule: The Deviates debut release "My Life". Sure, the whole Pennywise influenced skate punk is there, but there's something about their execution that differs from 99.5% of SO-CAL bands out there.

All the songs are fast and catchy, but their personal lyrics are what helps make The Deviates shine through the rest of the bands.

If you like old Pennywise, NOFX, etc. you know the deal by now. Sure it may not be super original, but it's definitely a fun album.

*I skate a lot... but I never find myself listening to skate punk when hitting rails.

MP3:
The Deviates -One Day
The Deviates - This Town

Read These Articles, Or Something Horrible Will Happen At Midnight:
SNFU - In The Meantime and Between Time
Bankrupt (Belgium punk rock)
Vandals

Buy:
The Deviates

Kickin It Old School: Short Music For Short People

Fat Mike had a vision... 101 songs, 101 bands, 1 album, all 3o seconds in length or shorter. What we were left with was the most ADD inducing compilation ever, Short Music For Short People.

And in respect for the theme of the album, here are some songs.

MP3:
AFI - Hearts Frozen Soil Sod Once More By The Spring Of Rage, Despair and Hopelessness
Dance Hall Crashers - Triple Track
Dillinger Four - Farts Are Jazz To Assholes
The Vandals - To All The Kids

Housewives Music for Housewives People:
You Sick of Your Job? (Mix)
The Best 20 Songs That Finish Under 35 Seconds

Buy:
Fat Wreck

Higher Giant - Al's Moustache (For Fans of Kid Dynamite, Grey Area, The Bouncing Souls)

I've said it many times before, and I'll say it again just for thoroughness, Higher Giant is one of the most underrated punk (melodic hardcore?) bands around these days. Featuring members of Kid Dynamite, Grey Area, and The Arsons, Higher Giant is getting ready to release the follow-up EP to the "First Five" that they released last year.

The newest batch of songs contained on "Al's Moustache" follow the same musical style of "The First Five", with their brand of melodic punk songs, complete with sick driving drums, sing-along whoas, clean actually sung vocals, and melodic guitar riffs. Anyone who loves Grey Area will definitely dig the latest EP, and I highly suggest anyone who is a fan of punk rock in general to check their EPs out.

MP3:
Higher Giant - Union Square

Higher Housewives:
Higher Giant w/Off With Their Heads Live In Philly
Higher Giant - The First 5
Token Entry
Higher Giant w/Token Entry and Bouncing Souls
The Art of Moshing Everywhere With Kid Dynamite

Buy:
Higher Giant Super Official Website

Sonic Boom Six - City of Thieves (New Album for fans of The King Blues, Capdown, Big D and The Kid's Table)

When I first saw Sonic Boom Six back in March of 08, I was completely blown away. They had the entire crowd jumping to their ragga/ska/punk beats, even those of us who never heard of them.

Needless to say, I went out and bought two of their albums "Arcade Perfect" and "The Ruff Guide To Genre Terrorism". After giving them a few spins, besides a few songs, I was completely disappointed by both. The songs lacked energy, were too poppy, (insert more bitching here)... so I was a little reluctant to pick up their latest "City Of Thieves". Damn good thing that I did.

The songs are are much heavier digging deeply into their punk and ska roots. "Through the Eyes Of The Children" sounds very Selector/Specials influenced, while "Rum Little Scallywag" is pretty much a straight up nod to the great Desmond Dekker.

If you've never heard Sonic Boom Six before, City of Thieves is definitely a good place to start. Finally, these Manchester punks were able to take the energy of one of their live shows and capture it in their songs.

MP3:
Sonic Boom Six - Rum Little Skallywag
Sonic Boom Six - A Bright Cold Day In April

City of Housewives:
Hub City Stompers - Ska Ska Black Sheep
Ruder Than You - Big Step
The Slackers - Self Medication
Capdown

Buy:
Amazon

You Sick Of Your Job? (A Mix!)

Man, so the other day, I was informed that I need to get to work earlier, as in an hour and a half earlier. Oh, and they also want me to stay later (not happening). I'm already taking a hit in pay since I work for a non-profit... but the reason I took the job was because they didn't seem strict about the hours. Well, now there is no reason to stay here.

So to all my other fellow wage slaves and future wage slaves (students), this one's for you.

MP3:
Atom and His Package - Mission #1: Avoid Job Working With Assholes
Bomb The Music Industry - Jobs Schmobs
Chixdiggit - Quit Your Job
NOFX - It's My Job To Keep Punk Rock Elite

More Mixes To Quit Your Job To:
Tribute To All You Bored At Work Or School
Monday Morning Ant Brigade
Housewives Guide To Getting Through An Interview Without Being Bamboozled

Buy (You Capitalist bastard):
Interpunk
Smartpunk