Radio State for Monday, February 25, 2008

with DJs Terrible & Fuck You

"Exploring punk, hardcore, rock, psychedelic, jazz and beyond. Mondays, bi-weekly on 101.5 UMFM Winnipeg."

Next episode: Monday, March 10, 2008
Last episode: Monday, February 11, 2008
10:00 PM - 12:00 AM CST on 101.5 UMFM Winnipeg (http://www.umfm.com)

Direct download
 Subscribe to podcast

A little bit of this, a little bit of that... Plenty of new garage rock and hardcore this week on Radio State.

DJ Terrible:

Cola Freaks - "Paranoid"
the Young Offenders - "Waxwings"
the Daily Void - "Surprise, Surprise"
the Hex Dispensers - "Forest Ray Colson"

No Age - "Boy Void"
Homostupids - "Back With The Wolf"

the Lamps - "Cowboy"
the Hunches - "Turkey Timer Pinocchio"
Wooden Shjips - "Death's Not Your Friend"
TV Ghost - live on Pure Hype

Ecoli - "Trammel"
Brain Handle - "Out Of Touch"
Kyklooppien Sukupuutto - "Olen, Siis Olen"
Walls - "What I Want"

No Trend - "Heartache"
Kilslug - "Bad Karma"
Black Flag - "Nothing Left Inside"

DJ Fuck You:

Middle America - "Scraped/Paranoia"
Condominium - "Faded"
the Replacements - "I Bought a Headache"

Husker Du - "Flexible Flyer"
High Back Chairs - "Summer"
Government Issue - "Everybody's Victim"

the Demics - "The Least You Can Do"
the Curse - "Aggravation"
Joy Division - "Digital"
Political Asylum - "Winter of Discontent"

Leatherface - "Little White God"
Billy Bragg - "The Milkman of Human Kindness"
Jonathan Richman - "Monologue About Bermuda"

Onion Flavored Rings - "The Shame of Quantum Physics"
the Mountain Goats - "Heretic Pride"
The Real Kids - "She"
The Clash - "Last Gang In Town"
the City Champs - "Broken Hearts"

Motorhead - "Shoot You In The Back"

Chaos In Tejas 2008 - Lineup Announcement

Chaos In Tejas will be going down at Emo's in Austin Texas May 15th, 16th and 17th, 2008. Most of the bands have been confirmed, and here they are:

Los Crudos (one time reunion show)
CRUDE(Japan, only US show)
Leatherface (England)
Dillinger Four
Hard Skin (England)
Fy, Fan (Sweden)
Invasion (Spain)
Straight Jacket Nation (Australia)
the Marked Men
World Burns to Death
Brain Handle
Midnight
Iron Lung
Hatred Surge
Under Pressure (Canada)
Sacred Shock
Deskonocidos
the Young

Under Pressure US Tour - Day 10 - August 3, 2007

New Brunswick, New Jersey...

I can't remember much of the morning in New Brunswick. We didn't stay in town to do anything more than find a supermarket to eat out of on our way out. I really enjoyed the drive up to Syracuse for the most part. The forests, the rolling hills, and the occasional tired old town that we saw made me wish I could just wander the streets and look in old store fronts. We had concerns to stay on top of though. It was still hot out and our van was still overheating. We tried to find a speed and a driving method that would keep the temperature as low and as long as we could. This meant coasting down hills and timing our acceleration into an approach as best we could. We got stuck in some road construction a couple hours away from our destination, Syracuse, but while it had us worry whether we would make it on time to the early all-ages show, it did give the van a break. And as it turned out, all the other bands were running late.

We pulled up to one hell of a large house that looked to have been built around the turn of the last century. Chuck, the promoter and who also sings in BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON, was there to greet us. The show was still a while from starting. Only a few members of the opening local band were around.

As it turned out, not that many people showed up. But those who were there were friendly and seemed to be in the mood to have a fun evening. It's hard to be bummed out about that. The opening band, a female-fronted hardcore band who's name I can't remember, finally started. Although there were three other touring bands missing in action--probably stuck in the same stretch of road construction as we had been--the show had to go on. I crossed my fingers hoping that at least DRY ROT would make it.

We waited around for a while after the first band's set wrapped up. Chuck gave us the call to set up and get ready to play because there was still no word on any vans showing up. I was hoping to play later, and in front of more people but what can you do? We played a pretty solid set, and just after we finished, both DISNIHIL and DRY ROT pulled up to the house.

DISNIHIL went on first and played TRAGEDY-inspired hardcore, and by the time they were done, THE JURY from New Jersey had arrived and they played a solid set of fast snotty hardcore punk.

DRY ROT closed the evening and once again failed to disappoint. Small, cluttered show spaces are ideal for this band. Their bassist Cam stumbled across an old pair of rollerblades and put them on. He didn't appear very comfortable standing with instrument in hand. I wondered if we'd be in store for a concussion this time around.

Drew showed no signs of having recently suffered an chemical burns to his bodies and lurched and jabbed across the basement. At one point he started pushing Cam around on his rollerblades and miraculously, Cam managed to stay on his feet. Towards the end of the set, Drew put on the inserts from said rollerblades and put them on his hands, and then a large plastic bucket over his head. He howled away and banged the microphone onto the bucket and Cam finally had his feet fly out from under him as the band descended into another chaotic ending.

Chuck paid us out from the door, then had everyone follow him to a nearby gas station where he put some gas into all of our tanks. That was really decent of him, certainly doing that out of his pocket as not that many had paid to get in. I've since found myself occasionally in a similar situation, where the local support decided to stay home on the evening of a show, and I haven't hesitated to help make a band's trip a little more worthwhile if I can.

While everyone else went to Chuck's house, DRY ROT went with us to a nearby all-night supermarket to grab some food. For some reason I had a lot of fun walking through the store, the air conditioners blasting, the bakery dark with the skeleton crew all hovering around the cash registers, turning to look down an aisle and see someone familiar every time despite being so far from home, laughing at Joe for his ridiculous meals involving clearance items such as liquid cheese spread or dinged no-name clam chowder soup...

After hanging out in the entranceway of the supermarket for a while, comparing deals and meal selections, we made our way to Chuck's place. Folks were already settling in for the night. Drew and Jordan were preparing noodles in the kitchen, so I set with them for a while and talked about some great psychedelic music that I had been getting into as of late, like VULCAN and ARTHUR BROWN. Conversation was later steered over to concern about Drew's burns. He showed me the damage. I suppose it could have been a lot worse but I had no desire to ever find myself in his state. After a quick bite it was time to crash hard. Joe was out on the 2nd floor deck, surrounded by some guys who were smoking cigarettes and chatting. Almost all of the house's floorspace was taken. I rolled out my sleeping pad and stretched out, much to the dismay of Mike, who found himself too close to my feet. A couple of portable fans that we had brought with us on tour were plugged in and I drifted away to the loud hum.

"Dragon Cake" from My Poetry Is Out Of Control by Jason Penner

My errant communication to God:
"Out-sized, out-matched
An elongated, soft-bodied invertebrate
An inch at the most
I'll call you Dragon Cakes"

God pays me a visit:
knock knock

Me answering the door:
"Oh-wandering one
Why don't you stay a while?"

God's retort:
"I am a god, you faggot!
I could fit not even a toe
inside your house
But let us see
What I can stuff in your butthole!"

Impostors
Taking it to glorious new heights

[For those stumbling across this and not aware of an earlier entry in which I explained both the concept of "honking" and my mandate to write one poem a day no matter what, I offer no apology.]


Dan.


Hanging around outside between bands in Syracuse.


DRY ROT at a house in Syracuse, New York.








Drew throws a bucket over his head and adds percussive sounds with the handy microphone.




Drew attempts to feed himself into a portal a.k.a. "the bucket".




Don't bother arguing this; there's nothing more fun than hanging out with friends at a supermarket in the middle of the night.




This is what a bleach accident does to your flesh.





All of Jason's photographs from Under Pressure's 2007 US tour can be found here.

Under Pressure US Tour - Day 9 - August 2, 2007

Allentown, Pennsylvania...

We had just enough time to drive across town and check out Double Decker Records for an hour or so. It was easily the best punk record store that I've ever been in, although I haven't been to Octopus Ink in Edmonton. Sadly, this proved to be a missed opportunity, as I was completely broke. I ended up walking away with an earlier Damned single and a reissue of a heavy psych band called Morgen. I wish I had the money to get an original pressing of American Wino. One day I will visit such a store and have $500 to blow in 5 minutes. Not that I'm that kind of guy but it'd be something to do once.

The drive to New Brunswick, New Jersey was uneventful. We pulled up to the Fuck Mountain house and saw the SEA SICK guys loading everything out of their van; they had arrived from their tour just 15 minutes before us and lived at Fuck Mountain. Actually, they lived in a duplex. In the back yard was a shed called Fuck Mountain.

Joe and I ended up hanging out with Mark for a bit. He told us about the grease trucks--where you can get sandwiches filled with pretty much whatever you want--along with other trivial things, apparently all to do with New Jersey. Sadly, Jon Bon Jovi never came up. Though I did find out what a brass monkey was; a Colt 45 drank down to the end of the funnel and then topped off with orange juice. (Isn't that referenced in a Beastie Boys song?)

Rather than wander around the neighborhood (some of the guys ended up shooting for the grease trucks) or sit outside in the heat, I invited myself inside and enjoyed the air conditioning. I collapsed on the couch and watched the guys in SEA SICK mill about, being greeted by girlfriends, talking about what they wanted to do first thing now that they were home. I like that feeling, of returning from a long trip. The air is buzzing, everything is slightly off balance, everything old is briefly new again. Sometimes it can help shake up my life, get me started on doing things living and working at home rather than daydreaming about the next road trip. I was looking forward to having a renewed perspective upon walking through my front door after over four weeks on the road. It was too soon to think about it though, so I walked back outside. The only way I was going to arrive at that state was if I truly left my home behind and lived in that drifting personal nowhere land that changes with every moment, every block walked, every room entered, every time waking up from a nap during a long drive.

Felix Havoc had arrived and was already setting up the merch table in the tiny backyard that was squeeze between the house and the shed. I greeted the REGULATIONS guys, and was then introduced to Ian, the promoter who was setting up the New Brunswick and Brooklyn Regulations dates to which we'd been added.

Two local bands, KILLIN' IT and of course SEA SICK kicked things off as people slowly filed their way down the narrow pathway that ran between adjacent houses and into the show. It became apparent that everyone was here to check out the headliner. Most people stayed outside of the really cramped and hot space of the shed until the REGULATIONS went on. I can't remember much about UNDER PRESSURE's set, so it was most assuredly neither a disaster nor a life-changing experience for the folks who stood witness. You know, to be honest, I initially wasn't so much into THE REGULATIONS records but seeing them live does it for me every time and now when I listen to their records I'm transported to memories of catching them live. Their songs are fun and catchy, and they just seem totally on every time they launch into a set. It was a great one. People finally decided to cram their way in and within minutes the shed had become a filthy sauna and my fingers were turned into prunes. We would be playing 3, maybe 4 more shows with these guys, and then we'd be rejoining DRY ROT for more dates. I love touring with other bands who charge me up.

After the show I sat on the back porch with Otto (REGULATIONS singer) and Jens (drummer) and Otto's younger brother Henrik who was on tour with the band and visiting the US for the first time. Henrik and I hit it off right from the start. Our conversation was derailed when a drunk frat girl approached the chain link fence that closed in the back yard and started asking us drunk questions. Our answers only served as encouragement and before you knew it, she was tumbling over the fence and repeatedly giving us high-five's and telling us we should go play on the swings. I was amused at first but then got bored and left her with the other guys. It was getting late and after the girl was successfully ditched, we all sat in the house's kitchen and continued our visit before finally passing out. A great night spent with great folks.

"Grease Trucks" from My Poetry Is Out Of Control by Jason Penner

Frankenstein, drunk
Begging to take you over to the swings
He'll tell you anything
He'll tell you that isn't piss running down his leg
And he'd be right
Ditch him and shoot for the grease trucks
Hook him up with a jug of bleach
Sick him on the Swedes
Don't ride no monkey
Don't get electrocuted
Don't slide no slide
Ride the grease trucks
Don't climb up into no jungle gym


Going through the records at Double Decker. As foretold, some punk memorabilia hanging up on the wall...


...the jacket worn on THE ABUSED Loud And Clear EP. I'd rather be listening to SWEET though.


Silver shorts, a yellow reflective safety vest, Greg Norman's golfing hat and a beat-up acoustic guitar. Wish I could have pulled off a better shot as we drove out of town.


We arrive at Fuck Mountain.


THE REGULATIONS @ Fuck Mountain in New Brunswick, New Jersey.






I think I impressed Jens with my idea of starting up a punk band called RETARD. "I am... RETARD.". I think you would have had to have been there. Errr, or something. Marcus is trying to get a good night's rest.


Good times, having a late night chat with Henrik, Otto and Jens.

All of Jason's photographs from Under Pressure's 2007 US tour can be found here.

Review: DEATH TOKEN - 4 Track Attack EP

Even without a clue as who these Danish punks are, DEATH TOKEN give you a good idea of what to expect based on face value alone. The sleeve cover depicts a 4-track recorder immersed in a haunted swamp. And sure enough; throw the disk on and what you have is a tastefully raw and punishing recording of enraged old school hardcore that wouldn't have been out of place on Pusmort Records back in the day. You can hear the greats (SEPTIC DEATH, DISCHARGE, early CORROSION OF CONFORMITY) contributing to their metallic sound. The echo thrown on the manic vocals sends them even further over the top into derangement. Seven monstrous blasts are sealed off within the confines of rotting and mutating swampland with an atmospheric acoustic outro. I wonder if these guys will get around to doing a slightly longer recording; I'd like to hear more of these moody interludes contrasting with aggro thrash.
(2007, Even Worse Records - http://www.geocities.com/evenworserecords)

Track Listing:
A: "Behind The Mask" "Holy Shit" "4 Track Attack" "Horrified"
B: "Self Infliction" "Dead End" "Black Seeds" "Eye Hardly Exist"

Radio State for Monday, February 11, 2008

with DJs Terrible & Fuck You

"Exploring punk, hardcore, rock, psychedelic, jazz and beyond. Mondays, bi-weekly on 101.5 UMFM Winnipeg."

This episode: Monday, February 11, 2008
Next episode: Monday, February 25, 2008
Last episode: Monday, January 28, 2008
10:00 PM - 12:00 AM CST on 101.5 UMFM Winnipeg (http://www.umfm.com)

Direct download
 Subscribe to podcast

DJ Terrible offers up another psychedelic/avant-garde mindfuck that leaps between the underground music scenes of the US, UK, Germany and Japan and teeters on both the edges of 1970 (well, for the most part) and insanity. DJ Fuck You takes on hour two with no prisoners. Tune in.

DJ Terrible:

Bitter Blood Street Theater - "Deathmask Insignificant"
Lost Aaraaff - untitled
Happy Dragon Band - "Inside The Pyramid"
The Red Crayola - "Hurricane Fighter Plane"
Damenbart - "Bewussteinserweiterung"
Masaiko Satoh & the Soundbreakers - untitled
Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come - "Space Plucks Dem Bones"

DJ Fuck You:

SMG - "Void"
Hip Cops - "Sac Tap"
Goat Shanty - "Three"

Society of Friends - "Damage 3"/"Wrestling War"
Iron Lung - "Medic"/"White Flag"
Rudimentary Peni - "Play"

Subhumans - "Firing Squad"
the Stretchmarks - "Another Tragedy"
SNFU - "The Ceiling"

Marginal Man - "Mental Picture"
the Faith - "Awake"
Rites of Spring - "Persistent Vision"
Jawbreaker - "Big"

Canadian Rifle - "Hug My Blood"
Off With Their Heads - "Call the Cops"
the Knockout Pills - "Summertown Rundown"

GG Allin & the Murder Junkies - "Anal Cunt"

Punch in the Face - "Monument to Nothing"

DJ Fuck You:

SMG - "Void"
Hip Cops - "Sac Tap"
Goat Shanty - "Three"

Society of Friends - "Damage 3"/"Wrestling War"
Iron Lung - "Medic"/"White Flag"
Rudimentary Peni - "Play"

Subhumans - "Firing Squad"
the Stretchmarks - "Another Tragedy"
SNFU - "The Ceiling"

Marginal Man - "Mental Picture"
the Faith - "Awake"
Rites of Spring - "Persistent Vision"
Jawbreaker - "Big"

Canadian Rifle - "Hug My Blood"
Off With Their Heads - "Call the Cops"
the Knockout Pills - "Summertown Rundown"

GG Allin & the Murder Junkies - "Anal Cunt"

Punch in the Face - "Monument to Nothing"

Under Pressure US Tour - Day 8 - August 1, 2007

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...

After a good night's sleep we said goodbye to Lika the dog (Andy was already at work), then went out for a pretty tasty vegan breakfast with Greg, one of the guys who set up the show. He told us about the possibility of Mr Roboto Project relocating to another building. I hope the DIY space survives and continues to thrive.

During these relaxed visits we always have the opportunity to pick up on trivial knowledge on the city we're in... Like how there are corner convenience stores in Pittsburgh that, in defiance of licensing standards, have unlicensed bars set up in them. For some reason I found this amusing. I mean, surely it would be worth a few chuckles to walk into a corner convenience in the West End of Winnipeg and see a bunch of cranky old-timers sitting at a small table in the back next to the Doritos display getting shitfaced. It's unfortunate that we didn't have enough time to seek one out.

We didn't pull up to Jan's Room in Allenstown, Pennsylvania until 7:30 PM. Either I was wearing down or it was getting hotter out... and more and more humid by the day. The humidity just kills me. I concluded that we were riding a heatwave. It was sucking the life out of me and I was starting to run a fever. I hoped that I wasn't coming down with a summer cold.

Jan's Room was located in a factory; a room located within a factory. A factory warehouse that contained at least one business, and appeared to have no intentions of suspending operations for the evening. As we loaded in we were instructed not to leave our equipment in front of a door that workers would need access to in their coming and going. The show space was down a hallway... A high-ceilinged room with a concrete floor and concrete walls. There were no windows or vents; just a single door that was kept closed while bands played. It was the perfect size for a show; people wouldn't be too scattered.

The DRY ROT guys were already there and we greeted them. There were a few locals who were slowly arriving and filing in. Then I noticed two "older" guys (being in their 30's and not in their teens or early 20's as was everyone else present) standing in the hallway. One appeared to be holding camera equipment, so I assumed that this was Scott, the photographer who Andy told us would be accompanying him to the show. Andy is half of the operation behind Escape Artist Records, one of the labels we work with. I walked over and made introductions, then shot the shit for awhile, until I decided to check out the tail end of the opening band's set. I think they were called WE HAVE HEAVEN. It wasn't my thing; amateurish Sonic Youth-wannabe instrumental soundscapes.

Second up were MIDDLE AMERICA. I thought they were alright. A little sloppy but pretty fiesty stuff. Their bassist smashed two bass guitarst during their set. I found this comical. Something went wrong with the first bass so he immediately threw it across the room. The band continued tearing through a song as the dude picked up and plugged in a second bass. Then, a song or two later, he got fed up with that instrument and smashed it on the ground, then switched back to the first bass.

Before playing, Adam and Scott took us upstairs into a stairwell and shot some photos for an upcoming magazine feature. I told Adam in an e-mail about Dan's deciding to eat lots of lemons on tour. Sure enough, Adamn brought a huge bag of lemons and they were used to produce sour faces while Scott shot away.

Getting back to the show space... Small rooms; great in forcing people to stand close and have fun rather than maintain a huge bubble of personal space around them. Also great for turning a concrete room into a bonafide sauna during a heatwave. We played hard and the kids in attendance made our exertions worthwhile. Upon our conclusion, I realized that I was dizzy and could hardly breathe. I felt weighed down, my clothes so drenched with sweat that I could have just as easily had been swimming in a pool with my clothes on. I packed up our gear as fast as I could and carted it into the hallway, then retreated to the van.

It was dark out, and the van was half a block down from the venue. It was still hot out but comparatively it was a welcome relief. I looked down the street, the sidewalks, the vacant lot. Suddenly it was really quiet, dark shadows moving around in the distance. I started to shiver, then stripped behind the van and changed into dry clothes. I felt recharged and wondered why I hadn't changed immediately out of wet clothes after performing before. I was still concerned about my health. I felt as if the extreme heat and exertion had me sweat out a cold. That's good if I had the virus beat; could be bad if it came back and I put myself through the same thing every night of the tour. Could break me down.

I quickly made my way back inside and got my camera ready for DRY ROT. They just got better and better live. Drew continued throwing reckless abandon into the performance, grabbing an old wood door left in the space and dragging it around, then screaming through its window at the audience. Four or five songs into their set, he ran into Jordan. Jordan retaliated, sending Jordan off balance, then grabbed a jug and dumped its contents all over him. I continued shooting, trying my best to capture the moment. I then looked down briefly at the preview screen on my digital camera and noticed that Drew's pants appeared to be changing color. I looked up and saw patches of white expanding across the denim fabric. It was I inhaled and smelled the burning chemical that I realized what Jordan had just done. That bottle of bleach that I had noticed in a photograph I took on our first show with DRY ROT back in Detroit had followed the band from city to city. It was carried with a purpose; a climax when the time was right.

Drew started to pull at his jeans, attempting to get out of them. His entire body was covered with a different sort of sheen, that wasn't like the sweat on other shirtless bodies; he looked glazed. Drew screamed into the microphone and the band hurtled onward through the song. He fell to the ground, then moments later, dropped the microphone and ran to the bathroom outside of the show space. The atmosphere inside was literally like a sauna, and now it was like a sauna that had been doused with bleach. No ventilation. People started coughing and left the room as quickly as they could. There was absolutely no doubt in anyone's mind that the show was over.

Ryan, DRY ROT's roadie, looked after Drew, flushing water over his body. After checking to make sure that Drew wouldn't need to go to the hospital and was doing alright, I got some "fresh" air and visited with Adam and Scott until it was time to load out and head over to the Jordan's house to crash.

We found a parking spot not far from the house, threw our belongings inside, then took a walk down to a nearby convenience store with DRY ROT. While I was inside buying myself a 1 liter bottle of amazing Turkey Hill ice tea, this black dude approached those of us who were waiting outside and asked for a cigarette. When he discovered that there was none to be had he became pissed off and warned everyone that things were about to get "buck wild". As I was walking away from the till, I noticed the guy sneak into the store as if he were hunting an animal with his bare hands. Finding his intended target, he grabbed a prized box of Slim Jims, then walked back out of the store, shoving through our party and staring us down. Intense but awesome. I hope he enjoyed his late night snack.

Back at the house, our hosts soon went to sleep. We took the opportunity to sit back and have a really good visit with DRY ROT. Cam, Joe and Mike sat around a table with DR drummer Pat and Ryan while I eventually decided to slip off into reminiscing my youth and watching a VHS copy of Ghostbusters II. All these years later, it's still pretty awesome. I still have a crush on secretary Janine Melnitz.

"Denim Gauntlet" from My Poetry Is Out Of Control by Jason Penner

Don't ride no train
Ride the hills
Don't stop for groceries
Don't help no old lady cross the street
Ride the hills
Ride the meatwave
Ride the meatwave
Ride the meatwave
To the Northwest
Don't ride no subway
Ride the meatwave
Ride the meatwave
Ride the meatwave
Your empty pockets


Scoring a pretty tasty vegan breakfast with Greg in Pittsburgh.


Under Pressure: where Gross St meets Friendship Dr.


Cam, checking out... I think it was an upstate New York swingers mag. Hot couples looking to bounce flab off each other's privates and all that jazz.


AMERICAN @ Jan's Room in Allentown, Pennsylvania


DRY ROT @ Jan's Room in Allentown, Pennsylvania








Bleach comes into play.








Scott and Adam (Escape Artist).


Hanging out, drinking some Turkey Hill ice tea after the show. I hung back from the conversation; my attention was focussed on Ghost Busters II.


Photo by Scott Kincade.

Review: EPISODE - s/t EP

I heard a rumor that there was a rumor that this band was some "all-star" lineup of today's hardcore punkers and/or garage rockers. There isn't any information printed anywhere. Shrouded in mystery (of the band's own design?) and received with praise from friends and peers, I decided to give this one a shot. Who are these guys? Well, THE RESIDENTS they are not, although their recording is similarly thin and trebly. These characteristics are compatible with the Japanese hardcore worship that encompasses all of the songwriting on this EP, and so this EP is not a high concept but a singular one. The riffs are there and they're quite obviously doing as intended; performing a successful genre exercise. There is an enclosed lyric sheet with run-on comical (well, attempting to be) punk propaganda that I didn't bother trying to match with the vocals to see if they were lyrics. The songs here are definitely worth checking out if you aren't tired of bands not from Japan trying to pretend they are from Japan; bands that aren't concerned with leaving their own mark. I have a feeling I might enjoy this record a lot more when I happen to be in not such a grumpy and judgemental mood.
(2007, unknown)

Track Listing:
A: 2 untitled songs
B: 2 untitled songs

the Gorgon - December 2, 2008

the Gorgon's Corpse Whale CD release show @ the Royal Albert in Winnipeg, Canada

Review: VEE DEE - Glimpses Of Another World EP

I assumed Chicago's VEE DEE had broken up. It's been awfully quiet since the release of the Further LP and Blood Zombie EP in 2004. I'm glad they're back at it because VEE DEE are one of my favorites to have emerged in the past few years. With their earlier releases I could easily summon up their sound as bearing similarities with THE TESTORS. Singer/guitarist Nick's vocals don't quite have the range or power of Sonny Vincent but that is no knock on their ability to play with and build on the bountiful trashed-out guitar licks and wonderfully thick, throbbing, fuzzed-out bass lines. The bass in particular really pounds an imprint of a song in my head and keeps it there. Although not without a sense of humor, there is a darker edge to VEE DEE's sound that isn't often present in other similar acts of today. Now having said all of that, this EP is a bit of a departure. But just a bit. Understandable, especially after 3 years of studio inactivity. The TESTORS similarities aren't as prevalent--the title track, clocking in at over 5 minutes, comes closest in similarity to the older material--and there appears to be more of a psychedelic garage feel, particularly with the track "What We See". As a result there aren't any instant punk rock anthems like "TV Police" present but instead a progressing display of skillful songwriting. I have to wonder if this is a taste of what is yet to come on a forthcoming 2nd full length. I'm eager to find out. I just hope the wait isn't another 3 years.
(2007, Criminal IQ - http://www.criminaliq.com)

Track Listing:
A: "Glimpses Of Another World"
B: "Death Cult Kissing Booth" "What We See"

Review: BORN BAD - Moron Music EP

Released just in time for the Winnipeg band's 2007 X-mas tour spreading ill cheer throughout the US, Moron Music is BORN BAD's sophomore effort, and a solid one at that. Six tracks of nihilistic mosh-inducing hardcore punk, featuring UNDER PRESSURE guitarist Mike Requiema on vocals and Paul Phillips from SEARCH + DESTROY handling double duty behind the kit. The recording is improved over the first self-titled EP. I was fortunate enough to gt a copy of the tour press, which includes the standard issue sleeve but also a great layout illustrated by Ryan Trudeau (SEARCH + DESTROY). This is gruff and to-the-point shit. The first comparison that comes to mind is DEAD NATION. I think that has to do with its bountiful negativity towards everything. BORN BAD started off more of a studio project but has become more serious and is now a staple of the Winnipeg live experience. If you get a chance, check them out. They throw down with plenty of comedy and tragedy.
(2007, Fashionable Idiots - http://www.fashionableidiots.com)

Track Listing:
A: "Society Bullshit" "Follower" "Kill The Punks"
B: "Intro/Excessive Force" "No Tomorrow" "Washed Up"

the Untrained Eyes, the Sweet Nothings, Tight Genes, Tony Two-Fist & the Terribles - January 26, 2008

Great show. There was a rural Manitoba band that opened things up. I wasn't into them much but they did have a fairly authentic-sounding So-Cal influence, and covered "Bloodstains" which was alright. I was expecting a spectacle with TONY TWO-FIST & THE TERRIBLES and was not disappointed. But instead of just drunken lunacy, I was given even more. Picture a happy-go-lucky GG Allin attempting to play covers mostly straying to the tuneful and post-punk side of things. The most retarded and amazing rendition of "12XU" that I've ever heard. Ditto for "Whips & Furs". It took me a while to figure that one out, but when I did I was floored. What the fuck?! Seeing Tony shake his fist to the beat, attempting to remember the lyrics before settling once again into the relief of the familiar chorus, then telling the laughing audience to fuck off was brilliant. TIGHT GENES went on next. I had only heard their early demo recordings and heard that they had been pretty sloppy live. They were tight with the new lineup although I didn't hear live what I had heard in the demos; a bit of a REAL KIDS influence. I'll check 'em out again when they next play out. THE SWEET NOTHINGS went on next and floored me. Winnipeg's scene had been lacking in one particular area ever since the demise of Jill Clapham's previous band, THE DETENTIONS. Now paired with a new and rock solid backing band, she completes the total package of superbly delivered pop rock'n'roll. Wow, the range and power of her voice effortlessly pulled off BUZZCOCKS and DICKIES covers. They're working on releases already and I can't wait to hear them. One of Winnipeg's best kept secrets, THE UNTRAINED EYES, closed the night. There had been delays earlier with a malfunctioning PA amp, which left the band with only enough time to play four songs. Then there was a fight that broke out and spilled outside, which caused me to miss about a song-and-a-half. Bummer. THE UNTRAINED EYES are also working on a recorded document; they were supposed to record the weekend of the show before instead committing to playing out. Overall, a fantastic night presenting a nice array of bands in the more garage-y end of the local underground spectrum.


Tony Two-Fist & the Terribles @ the Label Gallery in Winnipeg, Canada




Tight Genes


the Sweet Nothings




the Untrained Eyes