the Nerve Agents - Pictures: Showcase Theatre 1999

I was lucky, ridiculously lucky enough, to see the Nerve Agents on many occasions from just about the beginning of the band (I remember them being the opening band on the Rev tour stop at Showcase Corona- you know, when there was a Showcase San Diego) and on through the full arc of the band. And while I certainly some them far less during the Butterfly Collection time period, they were always an insanely fun and good band. Somewhere I have negatives for these and more pictures, but I sent a ton of them off to the band before Days of the White Owl came out. And while my pictures didnt get used, I did get a thanks in the album which is still one of the "cooler" things to happen. Great band, especially that first ep and the split with Kill Your Idols.... that David Bowie cover is outstanding....

Retribution - Two Song Tape

Retribution were a hardcore punk band from Southern California in the late 90's. To the best of my recollection they were from Yorba Linda/Orange County and aside from this tape they had released a demo tape previously and recorded a song titled "Kicked in the Teeth for Friendship". With political songs (Pigs with Badges) and a t-shirt design that had lady liberty being arrested by riot cops (I still have mine in a box somewhere).

According to the letter I found with the tape, these two tracks were originally going to be on a 7inch. Sometime after this the band took a bit of a harder turn in their music (which started to show in the track "Kicked in the Teeth...") and eventually led the band to change names. Changing their name to Atreyu.

As Atreyu they went on to release a few albums, even signing with bigger labels like Tribunal and Victory. I honestly was not a fan of the change and never paid much attention to the band beyond this point, but it is an interesting thing to look back on and listen to.

ALSO- IF ANYONE has the Retribution demo (or any other Retribution songs), Id love to get my hands on it. I do now have a means of transferring tapes. Which is good because so many of them seem to be dying fast.

Another great Showcase show

The flier is probably the last time I saw Retribution, though I am almost certain I saw them right as they made the switch and am damn near positive that there is a flier somewhere with them opening for Total Chaos along with Titty Twisters, Pukes, and Stiffs and it saying "formerly Retribution" on it. And if we're talking "went on to..." status, Titty Twisters singer went on to do a few bands over the years including vocals/guitar for A Better Hope Foundation and vocals in a revived Outspoken. I think this was also the last time the Nerve Agents played down here before releasing "Days of the White Owl" and moving more towards that horror hardcore punk image.


DOWNLOAD: Retribution - "Retribution/Shallow World" Tape

Amendment Eighteen - Demo

Amendment Eighteen (A.18) were a straight edge hardcore band from Southern California in the late 90
s- mid 2000's. The band played a straight forward brand of hardcore, especially early on; with later releases featuring a fuller, but still fast and pissed off sound.

I will spare the more in-depth explinations as this not the first A18 post on this blog, the "Defining the Color Conviction" 7inch can be found HERE. However, A18's brand of finely blended hardcore, anger, and punk comes through in even these earliest recordings.

A18 @ Showcase Theatre 2006

Recorded in the band practice space, all four of these songs would be re-recorded for the debut full length that was released on guitarist Mike's New Age Records. Enjoy the tracks, you have some good and varied sentiments here- from the straight edge to the aged and returning former hardcore icon, welcoming the new days and not selling them short because they arent the "good old days" as well as a rather deep sentiment in the song "Our Last Beautiful Thing."

Enjoy




DOWNLOAD: Amendment Eighteen - "Demo"

Amendment 18 - Ink Bleeds Through:

No Mercy - Widespread Bloodshed - Love Runs Red

No Mercy were a thrash/crossover band mostly active in the mid-1980's. Hailing from Venice, California they shared members and compilation space with, you guessed it, Suicidal Tendencies.

It should be said that, Suicidal Tendencies is probably the band most responsible for the musical directions my life (and thus this blog) has taken since I began seeking out music on my own.

Originally featuring a different singer (with whom they recorded compilation tracks with), Mike Muir eventually joined when the original singer departed and they recorded this debut (and lone) full length which was released on Muir's Suicidal Records (which had also released the Welcome to Venice comp. which featured older No Mercy tracks).

The songs certainly show their age, in a good way, with heavy riffs that have just the right amount of crunch to give it what I consider that perfect 80's crossover sound of almost metallic punk/hardcore. This is the way Suicidal's "Join the Army" should have sounded - NOTE: I love Join the Army, but the record defanitely has a slower pace that almost frustrates me at times when I think of how those songs would have sounded if they had been more in line with the "Controlled By Hatred/Feel Like Shit" EP's.

Speaking of the 'Controlled/Feel' EP's, the No Mercy album is the bridge in the gap from the stellar "How Will I Laugh Tomorrow..." lp and said ep's. By the time Suicidal Tendencies would release the double ep No Mercy had folded and No Mercy founder/guitarist, Mike Clark had joined ST. Suicidal began playing and recorded No Mercy tracks Waking the Dead, Controlled By Hatred, Master of No Mercy, and My Own Way of Life.

Enjoy a fairly underrated crossover classic. And should it motivate you, feel free to find Suicidal Tendencies' "How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today" and "Controlled By Hatred/Feel Like Shit... Deja Vu"; as well as Excel's "Split Image" & "Joke's On You". Nostalgic skater childhood in full effect.

DOWNLOAD: No Mercy - Widespread Bloodshed - Love Runs Red

We Gotta Know Podcast

We Gotta Know Podcast is a fairly new offering from Jason Kollins. Hailing from the frozen north of British Columbia, Jason offers up a nice selection of Punk & Hardcore (and whatever varying sub genre names you want to use) from bands you might expect like Cro-Mags, Black Flag, and Youth of Today to bands like Handsome and Brand New Unit. Add in a Seaweed track and you have all the great makings of a podcast, not to mention Jason's own commentary.

Jason has posted the track listing on the Podcast's blogspot & there's plenty of talk and link sharing on the facebook, so be sure to check out the links to both below.

While I'd always planned to share the Podcast in a post, I've also posted links to the download as Jason is currently working on a place to store the file (as mediafire knocked it down after awhile)- these will likely be temporary as well, but any port in the storm, right? Each link is to the entire podcast, so just pick one- no need to download both.


Download Link #1  |  Download Link #2

We Gotta Know Blogspot
We Gotta Know on Facebook

Three Lanes 3-Way Split / Nothing to Prove Compilation

Three Lanes... is a 3-Way Split CD released by Glory Kid Limited in 2007. It features Time For Change, Lockdown, and Heads Up; all from Southern California and all playing different styles of hardcore.

Time For Changes leads off with two tracks recorded between the "Wasting Away" 7inch and the "Memoirs" full-length.Both songs show the band progressing to songs that show a little more complexity and thought, which would become fully realized on their full-length and final 7inch. Both of their tracks here, "Heatwar", and "Homestead" would appear on the aforementioned lp, though they would be re-recorded and in the case of Heartwar, drastically re-worked.

Heads Up are.... hardcore punk. Not much my thing the time or two I saw them, and not my thing at all on these two tracks. They're most memorable to me for one of their singers busting a window at the old SOS Project at one of our very first shows (they paid for it).

Lockdown round out the split and offer up their brand of angry, pissed off hardcore. Fast, almost to the point of being hardcore punk, but with a heaviness firmly planted in hardcore and an aggression that matched the negativity. Again, not hugely my thing, but they were a lot of fun to see/hear live and the songs on this split are good. They would eventually split up with many of the members moving on to the band Last Days. Members would also do time in Time For Change.

DOWNLOAD: Three Lanes 3-Way Split

Continuing with the theme is a comp that came out a little while before the 3-Way Split. This was released by Good Times Records (2005) and features a lot of smaller/local bands from Southern California inc. Lockdown and Time For Change, who were also on the split.

All told, there are 12 tracks from 8 bands- along with the afforementioned bands, Final Fight, Feeding Frenzy, Looking Up, and 3 more bands round out this solid little comp. that has a little bit for everyone. From the heavier bands like Lockdown and Blood Stands Still to the fast and pissed of Feeding Frenzy and the more "recent" sounds of bands like Final Fight and Looking Up (really, you can only mention melodic as part of hardcore without sounding redundant). How does it feel to be a problem? Cos I Feel Fine!


Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD: Nothing to Prove- A Southern California Compilation

the Discipline Engine

The Discipline Engine were a punk band from San Bernardino, Ca. from 2001-2003. Playing a brand of heartfelt music that mixed influences that I've always felt is best summed up as saying- take the punk from Rancid's "And Out Come the Wolves" and mix it with Hot Water Music circa "No Division" and splash in a few doses of Sham 69.

The songs here cover a lot of topics from the funny to dealing with growing up, reflecting on birth, isolation, drug (ab)use by friends, and that gap that exists between the world we see and the world in our minds. The songs come from 3 recording sessions that made up 3 separate EP's. Recorded in Sept. 2002, June 2002, and Sept. 2003; in the short year that they recorded they played out quite often locally before succumbing to what so many bands are done in by- the end of high school (most of the band members graduated just shortly after the June 2002 session).

The Discipline Engine in back of the great Showcase Theatre

DE was a local band and one I was fortunate enough to see live many times and call friends. They played live shows that engaged you emotionally and made you equally have fun and think about things. Take the time, give it a listen... it doesn't sound specifically like any one of the above stated influences, and surely there are a hundred other influences they could all interject (and may well do so haha)- its moderately grown up punk rock- no grand political statements, just good music and songs about people and life in general.

Also included are a live intro and two live songs (live versions of Glory and I'll do it) recorded at the great Showcase Theatre sometime in 2002.

I've also started using DivShare so you can listen to a song (or two) from the downloads. Enjoy!


- the Discipline Engine - "Perfection Too"


DOWNLOAD: The Discipline Engine - "Give It A Name" (Discography)


More Info. after the jump

Gorilla Biscuits - Live in the Netherlands 2007

Here's a fun one from the Gorilla Biscuits re-union tour that happened in 2007. I missed the tour when it stopped off here in Southern California, but I hear a great time was had by all. If the pictures included with the audio (one of which you see to your right) are any indication, the shows were a hit everywhere.

On even the slightest off chance anyone finding themselves here does not know who GB is, they were a late 80's/early 90's hardcore band from New York. With a stellar first EP (it still gets more play than the LP for me) which was followed by a Full Length that laid the framework for many a hardcore band to follow. Fast and fun, it was also funny and intelligent- While the EP had a bit more of the run-of-the-mill topics of being positive in the face of adversity, betrayed friendships, shit talking, and the like, the record was still very fresh sounding and without the feeling of beating a dead horse, while the music definitely pushed the band over the top with that first record (High Hopes and Breaking Free are easily two of my favorite HC songs, period). The "Start Today" lp that followed in 1989 showed the band moving to a sound that incorporated a bit more of melody and the timely use of tempo changes & breakdowns that has been oft imitated and hardly ever matched. The LP also saw the band exploring topics of racism within the scene, vegetarianism/culture, and not wasting all of ones time be it to the TV (stand still), procrastination (Start Today), or changing lives (Time Flies). Not to say that they abandoned their previous topics, as songs like New Direction, Two Sides, and Forgotten all addressed topics similar to the first EP's.

Members went on to (as well as concurrently played in) many bands including CIV, Quicksand, Warzone, Side By Side, Rival Schools, and a nearly endless list of other bands.

I don't remember where I got this, surely it was from another blog a few years ago. All credit to the taper/photographer (there's 5 pictures in the folder) and the original poster. It's a really good quality live set, clear music, clear vocals; by the sounds of it one of the best audience recordings I have ever heard and easily an A recording. The vocals make me think that it isn't a soundboard.

Added bonus of a Judge, Warzone, and two CIV tracks- and of course, Sittin Round at Home which is actually a Buzzcocks song, albeit a bit different as GB has been known for doing it.

DOWNLOAD: Gorilla Biscuits - Live in the Netherlands 2007

Out of Heart - Second Demo

Out of Heart were a hardcore band from the Inland Empire, California around the mid/late 2000's.

They played pretty standard hardcore for the time- fast, angry, touches of heavy and angry. Lyrics that ranged from humility, friendship, and mistakes made; the band turned out two demos in a style not horribly unlike their influences of Another Breath, Staygold, Killing the Dream, & Count Me Out- not to say that they specifically sound like any of those bands.

I've always called this the "Erich" demo, which is how it is tagged. That was to differentiate from the fact that the untitled demo featured new bassist, Erich, rather than their previous untitled demo which had their original bassist.

Out of Heart @ Feeding Fest 2006

When the band ended singer Nate and drummer Jason would move on to form the heavier and formidable Xibalba with friends Bryan and Brian. Some time later, original Out of Heart bassist, Jensen, would join Xibalba as an additional guitarist. Erich went on to do local bands In the Grey (vocals) (demo posted HERE) and the Shroud (bass)  (demo posted on the blog HERE )






A video of the song Through Thick & Thin from the previously mentioned SOS Project. While the video is from the first demo time frame, the song appears on both demos, albeit, a bit more smoothly on the second demo.

DOWNLOAD: Out of Heart - Second Demo

Black Kites/Convulsions - Split 12inch

From time to time its nice to spotlight other blogs, bands, labels, or just people in general who are doing something of value and trying to pay back into this music that we all have taken so much from.

Glory Kid Ltd. has been such a label for a very long time. With an ever increasing (and diversifying) catalog of quality releases the man behind it all, Andrew Gomez (Burn Your Life Down/Time For Change) has put himself into the things he has released- this new 12inch (split release with the equally great Adagio Records) is no exception.

While I can't say that the cover artwork does a whole lot for me, it definitely catches ones attention and it doesn't stop me from looking further at the record. The music contained within though is something to stop you dead, catching you flat on your feet and unprepared. Both bands have been honing their sound for some time now, and on this record, come screaming through.

The first 5(6) songs come from Black Kites- having heard previous records of theirs, they always struck me as good, but the kind of band I really had to be in a mood for. On this record their brand of chaotic and volatile hardcore noise comes through in a way that sets them apart from the masses of noisy and screamy. With opening track Sleep Easy/Tall Tales Low Lives, the band shows that they can get right down to things and play some heavy riffs with a start and stop that gives way to just the slightest moments of a groove- conjuring a moment or two of great 90's hardcore, before going right back into what they do best. Personally, I think "Own Monster" is my favorite Black Kites track on the record. As usual with them, it beats you against the wall repeatedly with the screaming and bashing (vocally and musically) before taking a bit of a pause in the middle and showing off some very well done spoken talky-scream vocals that sound just so damned good.

Convulsions take off with the next 6 songs, starting with a cover of Karate. What a surprising cover, that will hopefully expose a new batch of people to this long gone 90's/early 00's band. The band stays very true to the original, just with a hardcore sound as opposed to indie sound of the original. Really a great cover for being able to stay with the original, but have it sound very unique. The band continues forward with five new tracks that build off of their 2010 Glory Kid release, "the Reaper's Gift." Convulsions is a heavy sounding band, but one unafraid to set itself away from the pack of both the heavy and the fast. Showing equal parts of bands like Deadguy and 108, Convulsions will sing, whistle, and beat the living shit out of you, all the while showing that they draw just as much from hardcore as they do many other genres of heavy and fast music (as well as some good post-whatever-you-want-to-call-it). Scrimshaw is proving itself to be my favorite track thus far- its fast and heavy, to the point, but not without its bits of grooving musical destruction. The record ends just as strong as it started (maybe even stronger) with Convulsions' Inhabitants of 13 Mall Street; seeming to cram every bit of what they are capable of into 4 minutes of sonic documentation. The drum solo in the middle that gives way to some ugly fucking sounding, 90's grunge influenced hardcore (and we all know grunge was really just 90's punk).

The newest Glory Kid Sampler is available at the Glory Kid Ltd. Bandcamp, free download of course- it features 2 tracks from this release as well as tracks from other current and upcoming releases on the label (inc. another Convulsions track from their previous EP).

DOWNLOAD HERE
PURCHASE HERE

Previous Glory Kid Ltd. Sampler Posted HERE 
Other GKL related posts (inc. the one off band, Agosto Espias) HERE

"Take What You've Got, Give it all" aka Still Going

This arrived shortly after the previous post, so do excuse the bit of inactivity. He's just about 2 weeks old and consuming most waking moments (and dictating when those waking moments are); but the blog is alive and new posts will appear again.

For now, he is asleep and I am going back to listening to the Vagary demo.

Back soon....

Post #145 - Johnny Five IS Alive.... What Happens Next? Still Kicks Ass

Not dead. Just unemployed for the first time in my adult life and expecting my son ANY DAY, literally. But the blog lives.... expect more (pay less), soon.

What we have here is a letter from Devon, singer of northern california hardcore/punk thrashcore band What Happens Next? I had written to him at some point before, as it was pretty regular for me to do with bands that I liked, just asking some pretty general questions (as you can see by his answers). I know its been said a million times, myself included- but one of the things I love about this music and the majority of the people Ive come in contact through it is the general humanity and ability to approach so many of the people within it.

Devon was incredibly nice and sent along a copy of their upcoming "Ahora Mas Que Nunca" 7inch that came out on Lengua Armada. Good thing he sent it, because even though I had the Hollow Victory and Bruitful Fearing records, I was completely oblivious to the new 7inch. The tracks on that 7inch are some of my favorites (on a long list of well loved WHN? songs), especially "Who Are You Playing For?" And the record came with one of the better inserts, which instantly made me feel 12 years old and smile.

The insert (on the left) is a little 3-D Pop-up. Great? Yes!

I was fortunate enough to catch them live at the show that Devon mentions at the end of the letter, which was nothing short of great. It was Esperanza, Lifes Halt, Total Fury, the Oath, and What Happens Next? The Oath was still new enough that most people were just calling it the "new Mark McCoy band", total fury blew the place apart, Lifes Halt was of course, great, and WHN? nearly brought the place down. It was some Art/Dojo type place in Pomoma, Ca. Odd location, fun show.

A Few Pictures (it was hard as hell to take pictures, but fun as hell) - As Always, click any picture to see it full-size

WHN?

WHN?

Lifes Halt

What Happens Next?

What Happens Next?

Mourningside - Dispose EP

Coming around towards the end of what could be said was a revival of metallic tinged Vegan/Edge bands playing a predominantly 90's influenced style of hardcore (at least in California), Mourningside slipped in along with bands like Abandon as some of the more notable bands were running their course and splitting up.

That's not to say Mourningside is a vegan/edge band, to my knowledge they were just a straight edge hardcore band; but more importantly a hardcore band with something to say. Not to be confused with a nu-metal esque side project of some other people, the band is usually referred to as Mourningside AD.

This 3-track EP was the bands first offering and shows their brand of chugging hardcore that continues forward at a constant pace, taking only moments of pause for a guitar only interlude with screaming vocals. To say that this ep is nothing new would be the truth; but to say that this ep is not worth listening to would be a complete lie.

With vocals that are usually a clean scream-talking yell and well timed guitar leads, Mourningside certainly has their moments where they remind me of Damien Moyal era Morning Again and even more so, Birthright; with the title track, "Dispose" being my favorite track on this short EP.

They later released a 4-song 7inch on Hard Press Records before disbanding. Word has it that the band is back together and has recorded new songs for a future release (they have played some shows sporadically).

More info, including picking up the 7inch at the Mourningside AD Blogspot

DOWNLOAD: Mourningside - Dispose EP

Humans - Demo 2011

The wife is taking a much needed nap before we go out for our anniversary; time to slip in a quick post on this Sunday morning.

Humans hail from Adelaide in southern Australia, a city I've always known more for its punk (bands like Standard Union and the Jerks), but they put forth a good hardcore offering- melodic hardcore that is giving me strong Final Fight vibes (especially from the era of the split with Lifelong Tragedy).

I know this style only continued to get bigger and bigger over the last 3-5 years and newer bands like Defeater have taken some of those elements along with bands like Modern Life is War (circa Witness) and really forged some fresh ground; while this demo doesn't necessarily break any ground, it gives me a lot of excitement to hear new  things from this band. All of the songs here (4 of them) clock in at or after the 3 1/2 minute mark, but don't drag on. Mid-paced hardcore with those guitars that make you think a movie is starting as the song opens; dark clouds rolling in, some guy walking down the streets as the opening credits start.

Give it a spin, even if you don't like it, it's not likely to be something you hate.

DOWNLOAD: Humans - "Demo 2011"

Humans Myspace Page

I'm not sure where I acquired this from, but when searching for info. about them I found the demo cover at the Auscore Blog, which also has the demo posted. Give them a look as well.

Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Live on KEXP 9/6/2005

For those of you not in the loop (I say that VERY jokingly), Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are a east coast Punk/Rock band originally formed in the late 90's as the alter-ego of Leo after the demise of his indie/punk outfit Chisel, for whom he had sang/played guitar. Leo's involvement with the punk & hardcore scenes is rather storied, from time spent as the first singer of hardcore punk pioneers Citizen's Arrest as well as many other projects such as the Sin Eater & Hell No (that's to say nothing of his brothers' involvement in music, including the great Native Nod as well as playing in TL/RX at various times).

TL/RX as many will often abbreviate the band to be eventually solidified as a punk infused rock band with the release of their "Treble in Trouble" Ep in 2000. From that point on, the band built upon a framework of big hooks, precise drums, and soulful yet punky vocals. While the sound and members have varied over time from the very 70's influenced "Hearts of Oak" (moments that make you think Thin Lizzy and then Elvis Costello and the Attractions) to the more concise and even stronger late 70's punk sounding "Shake the Sheets", the band has continued to put out a sound that gets tighter and tighter; but still able to go any direction needed, as evidenced with the digital only release of their "Rapid Response" ep which featured 2 new songs along with covers from the diverse background of the band that showed the band doing their send up of the Cocksparrer classic "I Got Your Number" and Leo alone on vocals and guitar doing Amebix's "Nobodys Driving", all pulled off as a basement recording outside of the "proper studio" comforts.

Leo himself is also known to tour on his own doing sets not unlike "Back To Basics" era Billy Bragg, as well as even doing abbreviated sets in the same manner before the full band takes the stage. A final aspect to the TL/RX sound is their ability to write and play songs that not only get you sucked in and ready to move, but have ideas, concepts, and dare it be said, politics, that do not smash you over the head with blatantly over stated ideas. Again, a page from people such as Elvis Costello and the Attractions.

Forgive the long intro, TL/RX is a bit left of center for this blog, none-the-less, the set here is 5 songs from right around the time of the release of "Shake the Sheets" and features the band firing through 5 tracks, including the rather catchy "Counting Down the Hours." Edited out is the banter between songs, but it can still be streamed from the KEXP site, who do numerous great in-studios with music from across genres.

En-fucking-joy!

DOWNLOAD: TL/RX - Live on KEXP

The Offspring - Baghdad 7inch

A little 3-song EP (4 track, Im not counting the Blurb) from after the "Self-Titled" album and before the "Ignition" album, it has the original version of their cover of "Hey Joe", as well as an earlier version of "Get It Right" (later appeared on the Ignition lp) and an updated version of the song Tehran, titled "Baghdad", and a little instrumental song/sounds called "The Blurb."

The Offspring have long been a favorite band of mine- call it right place, right time with the release of their "Smash" album. However, it was the discovery of their back catalog soon after and more specifically their second lp, "Ignition" that hooked me. And one of my favorite songs, you guessed it, "Get It Right." I can't say that I have felt that way about anything the band has done for a very long time, with the hodgepodge of genre mashing and convolution that was "Americana" being my breaking point (Ixnay on the Hombre was a good record- hate me if you like).

All personal opinions, likes, & dislikes aside, a good little EP here from 1991, released on the legendary Nemesis Records. I had been after this one for awhile for both it being an Offspring record and it being on Nemesis (as I would like to get at least one of every release on Nemesis- don't get me started on the original version of their first lp & my unwillingness to pay supremely over-inflated prices for it). I picked this guy up for a very fair price at Amoeba in Northern California when up there for Rivalry Fest 4-5 years ago.

Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD: the Offspring - "Baghdad" 7inch EP

Bladecrasher - 700 Club 7inch

Blade Crasher played a very straight forward, fast hardcore with just the slightest little almost heavy punk part to it. Youth positive, angry, and energetic; they existed for an all too short time with an equally all too short amount of output (demo, 7inch, and apparently 1 other track).

I honestly don't know a ton about the band other than some of the more well known things- they were from the Virginia area (at least I always heard them mentioned with VA bands & VA Beach), playing out with a lot of the bands of the east coast revival bands of the mid-90's (Time Flies, Count Me Out, ROTP, In My Eyes, etc.); and their singer Timmy went on to the even shorter lived No Justice, whose 7inch can be found here.

I do have the Blade Crasher demo (second gen copy from the good old tape trading days) but cannot at the moment place my photocopy of the cover, but look for it in the future. All in all, one of my favorite bands from the 90's revival, even if the 7inch does suffer a little of a thin sound (the demo doesn't).

For now, here's the Blade Crasher 7inch, released on Youngblood Records.

DOWNLOAD: Blade Crasher - "700 Club" 7inch

It Follows Mixtape # 2 : Drink Coffee and Destroy

Time for another Mixtape for the blog. I had planned a mini-one in honor of all the Carmageddon nonsense last month, but it got delayed. Next time.

This time around the mixtape is expanded a little more, again with the criteria of having stuff either released or to be released on the blog. The last one clocked in at just under and hour, this one clocks in closer to the 75 minute mark. Again constructed with an actual mix to it. Some build up, give way to a few moments of solace and then right back to it. Hope you all enjoy it- feel free to comment and throw things out there.

The Tracklist:

By the Grace of God - No School
Close Call - Slip Away
Reinforce - You Said
Drop it! - Counting Sheep (Wasting Time)
New Direction - I'm Bad With Names
The Cable Car Theory - Caffeine Battle Cry
Death By Stereo - Would You Like to be My Neighbor?
the Discipline Engine - Perfection Too
Notice 415 - Figments of Time
In the Grey - Province Town
Collision - Never Again
Written Off - Questions
Rain on the Parade - Respect (live)
Rancid - Can't Forgive (Embrace cover)
HFL - Nuclear Waste
Time for Change -III
the Assistant - I Don't Believe
the Shroud - the 8 Fathers of Salt Lake
Black Spirals - Still Sick
the Miracle Mile - 3 O'Clock at the Flag Pole, Be There
Blackspot - Drop
Agosto Espias - South Paw
Hot Cross - Solanka (live)
Moldar - Letting Things Go (to pieces)
Automatic - Not the Same
Skyline Awake - Seeking Solace
Voice of Reason - the Way Things Were
Bladecrasher - Do it for Yourself (demo)
Move Forward - the Only Constant
Let it Go - Interlude
Let it Go - Tear Down Your Idols
Straight Faced - Who Am I To Say
Where Eagles Dare - One Room Sanctuary

33 Tracks 74 Miniutes

DOWNLOAD: It Follows Mixtape # 2

(First Mixtape is HERE)

Move Forward - Move Forward EP

Arizona's Move Forward play fast and driving hardcore with throaty vocals, big drums, and just the right amount of melody and well timed punch.

Certainly a sound that has become more commonplace in the last few years, Move Forward not only do it well, but with fun and flavor. The newest EP builds off of last years "The Cost of Living" 7inch, taking it's punkier sound (and almost Hot Water Music-esque at times) and putting forth the new 5 song offering that comes straight at you with a bit of a harder sound than before.
Just about the time the first two songs have got you itching to run in circles and sing along, third track "Cutting Teeth" comes along with a bit more of a slower pace and parts where the guitar drops out and just the bass and drums pound out the back beat. Definitely the late-night-drive track on the record, it gives way to the shortest track on the record "Speak for Yourself", which brings things right back to the realm of run, scream, and drive fast.

Move Forward certainly has the ability to put out quality music and if the live show matches up, you will probably be hearing about this band for awhile to come. Being that they are in Phoenix (which also gave me one of my all time favorite bands- and people, Where Eagles Dare) hopefully they will make the trip to Southern California a few times.

DOWNLOAD: Move Forward - "Move Forward" EP

MOVE FORWARD BANDCAMP

Swindle - In The Red 7inch & Olivelawn - 4 is Greater than 2 / Cat's Farm 7inches

TIME TO KEEP SOME PROMISES... for those who requested Swindle & Olivelawn, here you go!!!!

Swindle has appeared here a few times on split 7inches (with the Finders and with Over My Dead Body), but this time they make an appearance all their own.

This 4-track 7inch comes from right around the time of their first album "Within These Walls" (1996). In the Red shows the band moving a little more towards the refined and snotty punk that would explode on their second lp "Better Off Dead" (1998). Still some what caught between young punk band with a funny and fuck you kind of attitude and the band that would emerge a little later and show that it could still be funny and even have that same snotty sound; but also hit its mark and write songs that a bit more of a developed sentiment. Yes, all while still remaining that loveable punk band with a penchant for some killer covers (seriously, the Skid Row and Violent Femmes covers are great).

DOWNLOAD: Swindle - In the Red 7inch

Shifting gears a bit, but staying in the realm of San Diego punk is one of the better early 90's punk bands (were there really that many at the time). Playing a bit of a loose and jangly sound that would become even more prevelant in the band that followed them (Fluf), O and the the crew cranked out some very fun punk to skate to.

The two 7inches found here, both released by Nemesis Records find the band both building to their debut lp and playing around with the sound a bit. 4 is Greater than 2 is pretty straight forward Olivelawn along with a great cover of the Love song "Signed DC", while Cat's Farm kind of has a little funkier sound that almost makes me think of some of the early 80's Seattle pre-grunge stuff (seriously, Cat's Meow could be a b-side to the Green River song "Swallow My Pride").

Both records make up a small offering of a good, if not slightly forgotten early 90's punk band. Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD: Olivelawn - 2 7inches

Where Eagles Dare - "Nothing In This World Lasts Forever"

Where Eagles Dare were a hardcore band from Arizona in the early/mid-2000's. Playing out what seemed like every few months, and squeezing in touring when they could, they shared their brand of fast and melody touched hardcore all over the west coast and even across the country at least once.

My first exposure to the band was supposed to be a show in the parking lot of a closed supermarket in Redlands, Ca. The police however showed up shortly after Amendment 18 played, and the WED boys who had played San Diego the day before had some ungodly amount of flat tires to make it to our part of the world. So, instead, they played in a driveway... a dirt driveway. A love affair started that night. While musically I heard more in line with a band like Stretch Arm Strong (don't tell me that you don't hear it too), they played a Misfits and Operation Ivy cover that night and it just sealed the deal.

In their existence they made it back to Southern California pretty often before splintering into various other bands (Red Son, George Moshington, and Royal Monsters to name a few) also managing to release an EP, LP, Split EP (with Nor Cal's Set it Straight), appearing on a few comps, and an unreleased demo (and yes, a 3-song demo that I've been told  I will be killed over if I ever share it). I can say that, without a doubt, there is not one instance I can think of in the 12-15 times that I saw this band, where the energy level was ever anything below maximum and the show anything less than great. Good people with good things to say and music & songs that only got better as they went along. Really, enough can't be said about this band, so I will stop before I say too much.


The download includes everything that, to my knowledge, they ever did.

1-13 : To Come From Nowhere Full-Length
14-17 : Split with Set It Straight
18-19 : 2005 September Demo
20-27 : In A Thousand Words or Less EP
28 : Unreleased
29 : Coastal Flooding Vol 1 7inch comp.
30 : Live at Sylvan Park - Redlands, Ca (The Porcelain Plate Incident)
31 - 33 : Not the Original Demo (or is it....???)

NOTE: I did somehow manage to upload a copy of Intensive Care Unit that has a modified beginning from when I was playing with the levels of the September demo (and had changed the intro riff to what you hear now)- there's nothing fancy or special to that version of ICU, but I realize it will throw the track list off a little. Whoops!

DOWNLOAD: Where Eagles Dare - "Nothing In This World Lasts Forever"

Interview at xSTUCK IN THE PASTx

Not only are the folks over at Stuck in the Past general good dudes and bad asses at posting great records, they also do a lot of other stuff. One thing they do is interviews- people like Dan from NFAA/411 and tons of other people, primarily 90's affiliated.

Andrew over at SITP asked me about doing an interview, and given the chance to talk, I obliged. Music Blogs and Why, booking shows, starting a venue and other little inflections about music, the edge, and so on.

Check it out, it's a quick read... http://xstuckinthepastx.blogspot.com/2011/08/jon-huskey-sos-bookingwhat-we-want-we.html

Thanks again to Andrew and all of the other guys at SITP- Chip & Justin have been at it for a long time, so if you've lived under a rock and never seen the blog, do yourself a favor- check it out!

By The Grace of God/ The Cause - Split 7inch

This split 7inch sees By the Grace of God in their later stages (this track would appear on the Initial Records re-release of their "Three Steps..." ep which included that ep plus assorted comp/split songs) with a song that starts of with a piano and spoken intro before the song kicks in with a mid-paced beat and those signature BTGOG era Rob Pennington vocals. A bit longer on the BTGOG side of things, this track shows another side of the band as they are able to continue a somewhat crawling pace throughout the song with momentary bursts of noise.

The Cause, from San Diego, bring a bit of a faster and more straight forward attack with their two tracks. A little punch and heavy riff or two thrown in with vocals that go from spoken to screamed in the same sentence are their formula. My first exposure to this band was their split with fellow San Diego-ians, American Tragedy, a very good CD if you can track it down. (If you can, post it. My burned copy has suffered through the years). The second track from the Cause shows off more of their heavy and even somewhat noisy side. Stop and go music that gives way to a pounding beat before again falling apart into a frantic guitar and vocal combo.

All in all, a very worthy little 3 song record. This can't be posted without giving a big shout to Big Brian from TFC/Xibalba because he had actually bought this at a show and I convinced him to sell it to me instead, on the condition that I make him a copy. Well, its been awhile, but here's your copy (haha).

DOWNLOAD: By the Grace of God / the Cause - Split 7inch 

Still Going... Getting Back into the Swing of things...

Me on the right & one of my first campers, Danny,
on the left, now a oldest boys counselor.

So, 3 weeks (give or take) without a post- what is this guy's problem? Summer Camp is my problem. Between Day Camp & Resident Camp (where the picture is from) my summer months can be swallowed up fast. It's been this way for 9-10 years now. All the extra things I do in life for leisure and fun always slow down or drop off in the summer months because I get occupied with these things. And for me, there isn't anything much better than being able to spend some time with youth, giving back and feeling like I am making even the smallest contribution to a positive experience for youth. It's something very close to a lot of my feelings about punk & hardcore and what it's taught me and given to me.


Okay- end rant.

I'm alive, the blog is alive, and so I will get back in to the swing of things as Summer 2011 wraps up here in the Northern Hemisphere and we roll back into that 9 month grind we call the school year.

Already some things lined up for later today/rest of the weekend.

The Leap of Faith.

Third X Party Records Ad

Leaving little to doubt about whether or not Third Party Records was a Straight Edge affiliated label, this nice silk screened ad was tucked inside of one of the 7inches I have that this label released. I'm sure many people probably pass off a lot of stuff that they did as somewhat generic youth crew revival, but they did have some diversity to the label. Besides the diversity, I loved that "generic youth crew revival" stuff. At least two TXP releases have already made appearances on this blog and there's bound to be a few more. Nick Baran, thank you!

As I Look to the Future Comp. 7inch

Just a quick one for everybody. I picked this comp up by chance a few months back based soley on the fact that it was a few bucks and had an early Bane song that seemed to pre-date the 7inch that the song appears on (though it did appear on their demo tape).

Sure enough, the song, "Lay the Blame", doesn't sound like the demo tape version (granted I have a rip of undetermined origins).

The other three bands are okay, but nothing here to really go crazy for. It is a nice glimpse into some things going on a while back as the bands are from all over (Texas, Mass, NY, and CT) with a little punk and some HC. Bane is by far the winner for me, but perhaps some of you also get to pick up a song from a local band you loved (because I myself am of the same type and definitely have some bands in my collection that I wouldn't like if they weren't local bands I had been raised on)

Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD: As I Look to the Future Comp.

Sincerity- It's For the Kids, Right? (It Follows Mixtape #1)

Still alive. Summer always tends to get the best of me with work cranking up another 5 or 6 notches. Add in the approaching birth of my first child and there you have it!

However, don't despair, the blog is alive and well. Ive continued doing things on my end to ensure that there are plenty of posts to come. It just takes a bit longer.

This time out we have a Mixtape of songs that have both been posted on the blog and have yet to be posted on the blog. This is something I have kicked around as an idea for some time and the formula of posted and unposted seems to give it a feel that its not just some shit you already have, arranged into a singular download.

Time was spent picking these 22 tracks and arranging them in a way that flows together to give the whole thing some flow and pacing. These were pulled from a larger playlist I had on my ipod for a few months and imported and edited so that they will go into your respective music player as ordered parts of the mixtape as well as still containing the info. embedded in them as to what actual release they came from. Enjoy!

Crash Davis - Removal
Ready to Fight - Work Sucks
DS 13 - Youth Crue Uber Alles
411 - Life Minus Me
Battery - Move On
Over My Dead Body - OMDB (live)
Committed - Get It Away (SSD)
the Finders - the New Civil Rights
the Third Degree - Instrumental
Former Members of Alfonsin - itty bitty
Chalkline - Torn
Quicksand - In the End
Samiam - Head Trap
Youth Avoiders - Joy
Swindle - The Wall
Stanford Prison Experiment - Natural's Not In (Gang of Four)
Six Feet Deep - Purify
Despair - As We Bleed
Flame Still Burns - Stick By Your Tattoos
Final Exit - You Suck
Overcome - When Beauty Dies
Follow Through - You Booze You Lose (live)

22 Tracks 54 minutes

DOWNLOAD: Mixtape #1: Sincerity- It's For the Kids, Right?

Jellyroll Rockheads - "Kill Trend Thrash" Demo 7inch

Thrashcore with a Rock N' Roll twist. My first exposure to this great band from Japan was on the Barbaric Thrash Vol. 2 comp on 625. Their song "Road to Ruin" (which an earlier version features here on this demo) stood out for the higher pitched vocals and the kind of jangly, loose approach the band seemed to be taking to their brand of hardcore.

Fast, screaming thrashy hardcore that was often driven by the drums as the guitars started, stopped, washed over the sound with feedback, before restarting again. Guitar solos mixed in with the short blasts helped define them in their short existence.

Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD: Jellyroll Rockheads - "Kill Trend Thrash"

Abnegation - Extinguish the Sickness 7inch

I was never too big on this band & I'm still not. However, I had a chance to pick this and the "Jihad" 7inch up at a Record Swap a year or so ago for just a few bucks. I figured at the very least I could give the band a proper listen and always move the records later. And of course, I could post them on the blog.

They've grown on me some, but I'm still not a huge fan. I'll alternate between putting the songs on my ipod, listening to them about 5 times in a week when I get the urge and then ignoring them and deleting them from said ipod when I need space. And so, the cycle repeats.

90's hardcore, lots of chug, screamed vocals (not quite so "evil" sounding as the Jihad record), breakdowns, squealing guitars, and everything else 90's, including less than stellar recording quality.

Animal Rights, Straight Edge, Hardline, evil looking artwork, all the things you could ask for with this 4-song ep. People are still crazy for this band, I can see why... but im still not one of em. Not a bad record though. Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD: Abnegation - "Extinguish the Sickness" 7inch