I Read Harry Potter, And All I Got Was This Damn Mix

The book is not as lame as this picture... I swear.

I'm really late with jumping on the bandwagon with this one. Over the past week where I was sick... I've been struggling to find stuff to do (since I had no desire to move), and decided on reading. But I didn't have any new evolution books from the library to get into, and I already read all of my books previously (only so many times you can read non-fiction).

My girlfriend happened to bring home the Harry Potter series, and I took a stab at that. For the first 100 pages, it was boring as crap (and crap tends to be pretty boring, unless you live off of a diet of stripper glitter and food coloring), but it actually picked up, and found myself (GASP!) enjoying the book.

I avoided it originally because when it came out I was in school and did enough god damn reading (of Sparknotes... heh), but if you're sick, and need a good book to read, I have to be honest and recommend Harry Potter (I only read the first so far, so don't come back and bitch if the others suck, you bitcher you.).

And since it's Monday... here's a lil' Harry Potter mix for you all!

MP3:
World Inferno Friendship Society - A Night In The Woods
Municipal Waste - The Mountain Wizard
Rise Against - Broken English

More Mixes That Aren't Lame:
10 Rules If You Wanna Be Hardcore
9 Easy Steps To Becoming A Skinhead
I got 99 Problems But Moving Ain't One
Tribute To All You Bored At Work Or School

Buy:
Interpunk

Betrayed - Substance (For fans of Champion, Embrace, Bane)

Finally, a band that takes the ferocity of hardcore and successfully blends it with the raw energy of punk rock. Betrayed, who includes old members of Champion, Terror, and Carry On, released one hell of a debut album "Substance" back in 06.

Unfortunately, the band and their release didn't get too much press, so it was easy to overlook. Shame, because it is one hell of a hard hitting album. It's good to see a bunch of hardcore band members tapping into their punk roots.

The opener "Think Twice" shows what this band is all about: fast and defiant. But the real gems are the slower, more thoughtful songs like "The City Lights". If you like hardcore or punk rock (which, I'm assuming you do if you're reading this blog), then definitely check out these under the radar dudes.

MP3:
Betrayed - The City Lights

Some Hardcore, Some Punk Rock:
Full Set Videos This Is Hardcore 09
Lighten Up! - Absolutely Not! (For fans of Paint it Black, The Steal, Kid Dynamite)
Off With Their Heads - From The Bottom

Buy:
Equal Vision

I Hate This Time Of Year (A Mix!)

Bane of My Fucking Existence

Summer is my favorite season... actually, I think it's the only good season around. But at the end of August, since I was about 5 years old, I have always gotten a sinus infection (sick, hence the lack of a post yesterday).

Scientists still don't even really know what the hell is the point of sinuses, besides provide misery in a lucky few of us (I get em at least 5 times a year! Woo!) It's 90 degrees out, and I'm cold as shit. Sooo... why not have a mix?!

MP3:
White Flag - Beyond Sore
Paint It Black - Head Hurts Hands On Fire
Melt Banana - Lost Parts Stinging Me So Cold

More Sweet Mixes:
No Sleep Till Virginia! (A Mix!)
10 Rules If You Wanna Be Hardcore
9 Easy Steps To Becoming A Skinhead
I got 99 Problems But Moving Ain't One
Tribute To All You Bored At Work Or School

Buy:
Interpunk
Smartpunk

Bouncing Souls, 7 Seconds, None More Black (Live In Philly)

Last Saturday night, I headed out to the sold out None More Black, 7 Seconds, and Bouncing Souls show at Philly's Trocadero. Since this was a lineup that I definitely did not want to miss, I made sure to get there damn early. After waiting in the torrential flood for a good 25 minutes, by the time doors opened, I (and the majority of the crowd) looked like we all decided to go deep sea diving with our clothes on.

They were showing a little video the Bouncing Souls put together for their 20th anniversary (holy shit, we're getting old), and while a bit cheesy, it did give us something to do while the bands set up.

None More Black

I've been a pretty big fan of None More Black since their first release in 2003, but I somehow never had the chance to see them live, so needless to say, I was pretty fucking stoked. While they played really tight, the crowd didn't really move much (except for me and a small handful of dedicated fans), although most people in the audience did sing along to every word. I couldn't have asked for a better setlist, as they played all of my personal favorites, including "Drop The Pop".

Setlist (From memory, not in order)
-Genuine Malaise And Misery
-Banned From Teen Arts
-Everyday Balloons
-Drop The Pop
-New Song
-We Dance On The Ruins Of The Stupid Stage
-My Wallpaper Looks Like Paint
-Oh There's Legwork

7 Seconds:
Hoooooly shit! Is this actually happening? Am I really seeing the legendary 7 Seconds?! After nearly 25 years, the band still fucking has it. Music is still energetic, fast, and they slay it live.

I was expecting a batshit crazy time in the crowd. But seriously, what the fuck? Philadelphia, I am disappointed in you. One of the pioneers in hardcore comes around, and barely anyone moves? It actually seemed like 3/4ths of the crowd didn't even have any idea who these guys were... and I must say, I'm pretty embarrassed of my adopted city right now. Regardless, the crowd finally got moving once the band played 99 Red Balloons. The band played almost all old songs (err... since all the songs are old, I'm talking "The Crew" era.)

I'm a bit jealous of you NYC cats who got to go see them at Webster Hall, as apparently there wasn't a barricade, and it was just nonstop stage dives... we had to deal with that barricade/bouncer shit here in Philly (bands... stop playing the Trocadero. There are 283712784 million other venues here).

Highlights include:
-Not Just Boys Fun
-99 Red Balloons
-Young Til I Die
-If The Kids Are United

Bouncing Souls:

This was going to be the 13th time I've seen these fucking New Jersey moochers since the first time I saw them at Skate and Surf back in 2003, and they've been my favorite band for almost 10 years now. While I was a bit underwhelmed with the Gold Record and a lot of the songs they released this year seem a bit like filler to me, these guys still blow me away live every time I see them, especially when they dip into their back catalog. Tonight was no exception.

The thing about the Souls is the type of crowd they attract. You've got punk rockers, hardcore fans, ska kids, hipsters, and even some bro types at their show. There's something about my home state representatives that just appeal to everyone. Almost the entire crowd was shouting along to every word that came out of Greg's mouth.

In the middle of the set, the Bouncing Souls had Lou from Sick Of It All come onstage and do a SOIA cover (which the Philly crowd broke into one huge hardcore pit, apparently we don't like 7 Seconds, but we like NYHC? Cmon guys... roots).

Solid setlist, with mostly older songs, and a nice collection off all of their albums.

(Not in order, but pretty complete)
-Here We Go
-Manthem
-I Think That The World
-Sing Along Forever
-Cracked
-Kate Is Great
-Lean On Sheena
-Old School
-Some Kind Of Wonderful
-Hopeless Romantic
-Kid
-Acoustic (Misfits Cover?)
-Sick of It All Cover
-True Believers
-Late Bloomer
-Lamar Vannoy
-Argyle
-Quick Check Girl
-Born To Lose

Encore
-The Gold Song
-Kids And Heroes
-Night On Earth

MP3:
The Bouncing Souls - Argyle
None More Black - Genuine Malaise and Misery

More Souls:
Bouncing Souls 20th Anniversary Collection Vol I
Home(Less) For The Holidays (Bouncing Souls, Token Entry, Vision)
The Bouncing Souls "Worst" Album
Bouncing Souls Split Series
Battle: Bouncing Souls vs Band of Horses!

Buy:
Chunksaah
Fat Wreck

Arrogant Sons Of Bitches - Discography (For fans of Big D and the Kids Table, Bomb the Music Industry, Streetlight Manifesto)

I've noticed that a lot of you young'uns are huge fans of Bomb The Music Industry (and rightfully so, they are siiiick), but have no idea who The Arrogant Sons of Bitches are. Well in the words of one of the two rappers I regularly listen to: "You Must Learn!"

Before Bomb the Music Industry, Jeff Rosenstock played in a little spastic high school band called "The Arrogant Sons of Bitches". After they graduated, the band would get a new lineup, since most members quit to attend college. This is when things started getting serious.

Often going on tour with Big D and the Kids Table, these duders played insane live shows. As I've stated in an earlier post: the keyboardist would be jumping up and down on his keyboard and then jump and swing on the overhead speakers (I'm shocked no one died), Jeff (vocalist) and bassist would be diving in the middle of the crowd, and it always looked as if Attila the Hun just partied up on there.

Their self titled discography isn't actually everything that they ever did, as they released "Three Cheers for Disappointment" after the discography release, but it is one hell of an album with very few tracks that could be considered filler. If you love the 3rd wave (you nerd), grab a copy of the album. It's damn solid.

Mp3:
Arrogant Sons of Bitches - Kill the President
Arrogant Sons of Bitches - Royale Fuck Deluxe I

Now You're Ska-ing Like A Pro:
Big D and the Kids Table - Fluent in Stroll
Hub City Stompers - Ska Ska Black Sheep
Bomb the Music Industry - Scrambles

Buy:
Kill Normal

Full Set Videos This Is Hardcore 09

Hate5Six Productions have posted a bunch of full set videos from a bunch of bands over at http://vimeo.com/hate5six . Yours truly shows up in a few of them, and I'm sure the guy will post more bands as time goes on, as I saw him onstage with every band taping...

Here's a few sets that I was there for:

Ceremony:

Ceremony (TIH 2009, Phase 1) from hate5six productions on Vimeo.

Blacklisted:

Blacklisted (TIH 2009, Phase 1) from hate5six productions on Vimeo.

Check All The videos here.

MP3:
Ceremony - He-god-Has Favored Our Undertakings

More Sweetness:
Philly's This is Hardcore 09 (Bane, Ceremony, Reach The Sky)
Scenester 101: How to Be Hardcore in 10 Easy Steps!
Gorilla Biscuits
Ten Yard Fight
Bane
Ceremony - Violence Violence

Buy:
Interpunk

World Inferno Friendship Society - A Demonstrational Introduction To The Astral Plane (For fans of Gogol Bordello, Mischief Brew)

Picture by Joey O'Rourke

Before they were Addicted to Bad Ideas and before they were bringing you the East Coast Super Sound Punk of Today, The World Inferno Friendship Society released an album entitled "The True Story of the Bridgewater Astral League". After they released the album, their unreleased demo known as "A Demonstrational Introduction to the Astral Plane" or simply "The Bridgewater Demos" were leaked, and every fan should take a listen to discover the roots of this infamous cabaret punk band.

The develish ghouls display a bit more of their ska roots, prominent on songs such as "A Night In The Woods" and "A Lust For Timing" (which may explain why World Inferno has such a huge following of ska dudes and dudettes).

If you've never heard of these guys, you need to first check out something like Red Eyed Soul or Just The Best Party, but if you're an established fan, the demos definitely make an interesting listen.

MP3:
World Inferno Friendship Society - A Night In The Woods

A Demonstrational Introduction To The World Inferno Friendship Society:
Addicted to Bad Ideas
Just The Best Party
Red Eyed Soul
East Coast Super Sound Punk of Today

Buy:
This Demo Wasn't Released, But Check Out Their Other Stuff On Chunksaah

Philly's This is Hardcore 09 (Bane, Ceremony, Reach The Sky)

Jesus, I'm seriously not going to be able to move today after yesterday's "This Is Hardcore" show in Philly's Starlight Ballroom. While the event was taking place all weekend, I only headed out at the end of Day 3 because I was only interested in a few bands.

One thing I have to say, mad props to Philly on two things. Firstly, I was expecting a complete bro-fest at the show (like most hardcore shows), but there was a surprising number of girls there, so props for that. Secondly, I was hesitant to go at first because these types of shows often attract those tougher-than-thou guys who are always trying to start fights and whatnot... The show was insane, but when someone fell or got hurt stage diving (or by a stage diver), everyone was right there to pick them up, and not a single fight started (at least when I was there). The only thing that really sucked was losing $20 (fell out of the pocket), and in the scheme of shit, that's not too bad.

Wisdom In Chains

I had no idea who these dude were before seeing them, but they were a good warmup to get me pumped before Ceremony took the stage. Coming straight out of Pennsylvania, although they call themselves PA Hardcore, they had a sound very similar to NYHC, such as Agnostic Front and Sick Of It All.

Ceremony

Hooooly shit! The reason I came out to this show in the first place. Back when I saw these Bay Area dudes play with Paint it Black a few months ago, I was completely blown away by their live performance that I wound up getting really into their recorded work as well, and needed to see them again. Playing their brutal "Some Girls" esque hardcore to a well responding audience, who were constantly mic grabbing and piling on the vocalist (when he wasn't stage diving into the crowd).

They put on a hell of a show, and the frontman is possibly the craziest dude I've ever seen on stage (choking himself with wires, stuffing the mic in his mouth, constantly flipping into the crowd). Setlist (in order)

- The Lines In My Forehead (Scared People)
- Kersed
-Pressure's On
-The Difference Between Looking And Seeing
-Walking Home
-Living Hell
-Mothers and Fathers
-Violence + Ghosts
-A Blight On Mental Health
-Throwing Bricks
-Feel Like a Man
-I Want To Put This To An End
-Plutocratic Swine Rake
-This Is My War
-He God Has Favored Our Undertakings
-It Rained in My Head
-(Not sure what the last one is)

Reach The Sky:

Holy 1999! Reach The Sky reunited to play "This Is Hardcore", and I missed the first 2 songs (I was looking for my $20 and they set up a LOT faster than I thought... damn it), but I made it just in time to hear "Let Us Be Damned" and "This Sadness Alone" (I think)... I'm not too familiar with their catalog, but I do like the band a lot, and need to grab a few more of their albums (I only have Friends, Lies, And The End of the World).

The band was signed to Victory Records, and they stated: "If you liked us tonight and have never heard of us, please support us by going online, and downloading the shit out of our music. Don't buy it, Fuck Tony [owner of Victory Records]." So you heard the band, go find their music, it's tight. Think Grey Area, Kid Dynamite, and other awesome melodic hardcore bands.

Highlights:
-Catch The Last Train
-Let Us Be Damned
-This Saddness Alone
-Maybe Next Year

Blacklisted:

Philly hardcore band, with Andy from Paint It Black filling in on guitar for them. I wasn't a huge fan, but the crowd went batshit crazy for them. Darker hardcore, so if you're into that, you'll dig em.

Bane:

I've been listening to Bane for years now, and never had a chance to see them. Finally I got to see these legends. By the time Bane came on stage, the dude running the show (Joe Hardcore from Shattered Realms and Punishment) didn't even try to police the stage, and instead brought out signs rating people's stage dives (from "Go Home" to "Holy Shit!").

The dudes in Bane are older now, but that definitely does not slow them down. Vocalist Aaron Bedard was stage diving into the crowd like this was his first show, and the entire band just had such an energy to them. Their set consisted of constant stage dives [including one by yours truly... who unfortunately dove right after a rather large dude did and took out a lot of the crowd... meaning I landed straight on my back on the hard floor... still feeling that one.)

Sadly, Bane didn't play the one song I wanted to hear (Speechless), but they had an admirable set, with some highlights including:

-Ante Up
-Some Came Running
-What Holds Us Down

The only weird thing about their set was their choice for an encore... I forget the name, but it's a slower song and the crowd wasn't doing much due to the mid-tempo jam. Still, a ridiculously explosive set.

MP3:
Ceremony - He-god-Has Favored Our Undertakings
Bane - Speechless (since they didn't play it)

This Is Hardcore (Articles):
Scenester 101: How to Be Hardcore in 10 Easy Steps!
Gorilla Biscuits
Ten Yard Fight
Bane
Ceremony - Violence Violence

Buy:
Interpunk

Off With Their Heads - From The Bottom (For fans of Dillinger Four, Dropkick Murphys, Bouncing Souls)

This is what Dillinger's Four C I V I L W A R should have been! Minnesota's Off With Their Heads 2008 "From The Bottom" takes home city heroes D4 influences, puts their own little twist on it, and makes for one fuck of an album.

Beer-soaked, anthematic, chug-a-lug tunes, Off With Their Heads know how to write a damn catchy tune. Buzz saw guitars and vocals that remind me of Al Barr of the Dropkick Murphys, every song makes for one hell of a sing-along (as I've seen happen when I saw these dudes live).

While the music somehow remains completely cheery, the lyrics have a mouthful of cynical bite to them. On "Until The Day...", Ryan snarls "Cause I'll never let it go/and I'll just let it grow/until the day I die I fucking swear/I'm gonna make your life as miserable as mine."

"From The Bottom" is an album that every punk fan needs to listen to... over and over again.

MP3:
Off With Their Heads - Wrong
Off With Their Heads - Until The Day...
From The Bowels:
Over Stars and Gutters - Consider This Your Curse
The Vandals - Live Fast Diarrhea
Against Against
NOFX - War On Errorism
The Soviettes

Buy:
No Idea Records

Show Review: Lighten Up (7/6/09)

I headed out to a random house in West Philly on a whim last Thursday to go catch Philly's up and coming hardcore kids, Lighten Up. When I got to the "Terrordome", I realized that I actually knew the dudes who live there... random. The place was intimate and the perfect joint for a house show, with the bands playing in what looks like would be their living room/dining room.

The Helloids

The Helloids trekked out from Long Island to play the small show to about 30 people (and that's including the bands). They got things started by playing some solid, catchy punk rock. Unfortunately I couldn't hear any of the vocals, but the music was tight.

Teenage Whore Moans
Besides having an awesome name (I'm a sucker for a clever pun), Philly's Teenage Whore Moans put on a much better show than the last time I caught them, where they broke a string and couldn't find a replacement.

Playing garage punk in the veins of the Teenage Harlots, they got the small crowd moving a bit with their catchy as hell jams. The band seemed on tonight, and the guitarist/singer often made his way into the crowd.

Lighten Up

The reason I came to the show. Philly's upcoming Lighten Up released "Absolutely Not" in June, and it has been what of the best releases that I've heard all year (and trust me, I've listened to a lot of new releases as of late). Dubbed as the next Kid Dynamite (ok... maybe it's just me who calls them this), Lighten Up played a solid, quick, energetic set (just like their album) that had a small but dedicated pit going through out the show. I don't rememeber the setlist, but highlights include "Invisible Checks", "Dolphins Are Sharks With Good Publicity", "Buttspeak", and the ridiculiously anthematic "Absolutely Not".

If these dudes played shows a little more often, I can see them getting big really fast. It's rare for a band to take the ferocity of Minor Threat and Kid Dynamite, and still having your own sound shine through.

Tenament
These Wisconsin rockers are currently touring the country. Although it didn't really seem like anyone in the crowd knew who Tenament was, they won some fans over with their pop-punk. I couldn't help but think of the Descendants when hearing them. Their live music is much more gritty and raw than their recorded work, and they definitely put on a good show. If they come around your area, check em out.

MP3:
Lighten Up! - Invisible Checks
Lighten Up! - Reality World

Check Out:
Lighten Up! - Absolutely Not!
Paint It Black - Amnesia (New EP!)
The Steal - Bright Grey
The Steal - Self Titled

Buy:
Jump Start Records

I Left My Heart In Jersey (A Mix)

You didn't see a post here on Friday or Monday because my girlfriend and I returned to our ancestral homeland for vacation (NJ). We went over to Wildwood (a spot I've been hitting since I was wearing diapers...), and wow, do I miss the Jersey shore.

Philly's great and all, but there's something about my home state that gets me every time, so lets have some Jersey bands!

MP3:
The Bouncing Souls - Argyle
Static Radio NJ - Marc
Bigwig - Owned and Operated
Lifetime - Irony is for Suckers
Blanks 77 - Radio Hits
Streetlight Manifesto - Better Than You (Live At Rutgers)
Ensign - Revolution's End

So Jersey:
Battle: Bouncing Souls vs Band of Horses!
Bouncing Souls 20th Anniversary Collection Vol I
Hub City Stompers - Ska Ska Black Sheep

Buy:
Interpunk
Smartpunk

Teenage Bottlerocket Releases New Song! (For fans of The Ramones, The Copyrights, Screeching Weasel)

Photo By Katie Hovland

"Good god these guys are gonna get carpel tunnel syndrome soon with all the downstrokes" Teenage Bottlerocket have released a new song from their upcoming "They Came From The Shadows" that will be released on Fat Wreck.

The song itself sounds like pretty standard Teenage Bottlerocket, so hopefully this will prove that signing to Fat Wreck won't change their sound at all. Get hyped!

Mp3:
Teenage Bottlerocket - Skate or Die!

Got An Empty Bottle In My Pocket And Things Are About To Explode:
The Lillingtons - Too Late Show
Teenage Bottlerocket - Another Way
The Copyrights
The High School Dropouts
The Vapids - Most Underrated Ramones-Esque Band Around
Teenage Bottlerocket - Warning Device

Buy:
Fat Wreck

Here's To The Memories: The Impossibles - Oxygen (For fans of Weezer, MU330)

Spot I skated at... only night, and no people

Ever have a song that you've had for a while and listened to a decent amount over the years, but then something in your life happens and you associate that song with a certain memory for years to come?

The song "Oxygen" by the Impossibles (Off of their Brick Bomb EP) will always remind me of a certain time during my freshman year of college (2003) where I was out skating on my empty campus (it was fall break), trying to adjust being away from friends, family, and home. The air was cool and crisp, Brick Bomb EP and Anthology pumping through my headphones, and feeling more homesick than ever, I rememeber seeing only a cop walk by (who surprisingly didn't bother me any) and nobody else around.

Skating at 2 am, running on very little sleep and having played waaaay too much Starcraft, I remember seeing a leaf and getting creeped out because I thought it was a Zergling...

Funny how years later, the song could come up on shuffle and everything I was feeling 6 years ago could resurface. What about you? Any songs that you associate with a particular moment?

MP3:
The Impossibles - Oxygen

Random Crizap:
Terror Fans Are Dicks
10 Rules If You Wanna Be Hardcore
9 Easy Steps To Becoming A Skinhead
I got 99 Problems But Moving Ain't One

Buy:
Fueled By Ramen

Ceremony - Violence Violence (For fan of Paint it Black, Some Girls, Blacklisted)

Keeping up with the housewives recent tradition of tackling all of Ceremony's albums (because they are freaking sweeeeet), I've been listening non-stop to their album "Violence Violence" (which rules, despite having an album name that sounds rather indie).

"Violence Violence" also includes their debut 7-inch "Ruined" at the end, adding 7 tracks to the 13 new ones (and still, the entire album only lasts about 20 minutes). Featuring that brutal, spazztic, grind influenced hardcore that Ceremony is known for, their earlier work here has a bit more melody and shows their punk roots a lot more than their newer "Still Nothing Moves You".

As with all of Ceremony's albums, it needs to be listened to as a whole (which isn't hard to do at 20 tracks in 2o minutes), and if you love hardcore, you'll be spinning this fury over and over.

MP3:
Ceremony - My Hands Are Made Of Spite
Ceremony - Nail

Articles Articles:
Ceremony - Scared People EP
Terror Fans Are Dicks
Ceremony - Still Nothing Moves You
Paint It Black - Amnesia (New EP!)

Buy:
Deathwish

No Sleep Till Virginia! (A Mix!)

Coolest State Flag Ever

So this weekend I headed out to my great college state of Virginia to hang out with some amigos to do what all mature adults do after being out of college for 2 years do: play foursquare, KBT, and other kid games.

Two of my friends had to spend the night homeless in NYC as they missed their connecting bus, but they made it down, even if a bit late. Yes. The trip was awesome. Lets hear some Virginia bands then.
MP3:
Avail - Simple Song
Inquisition - Open Letter
Municipal Waste - The Art of Partying
Strike Anywhere - Refusal

More Mixes With a Capital D:
10 Rules If You Wanna Be Hardcore
9 Easy Steps To Becoming A Skinhead
I got 99 Problems But Moving Ain't One
Tribute To All You Bored At Work Or School

Buy:
Interpunk