Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Young Canadians


I've always been a fan of late 70's Candaians punk: Subhumans, Diodes, Demics, DOA, Action and of course the Young Canadians (who used to be the K-tels for those keeping score). I have the second 12" which is a decent slab of wimpy punk... but it's the 1st 12" 'Hawaii" thats the real jam... finally I picked it up... for a measly 20 bucks inc postage too!!! score. Here's a clip of them live...check the girl dancing behind them...epic.


Monday, March 30, 2009

SOTD 3/30

The Afghan Whigs –Summer’s Kiss

The weather was epic this weekend in SF! So, continuing the trend of summer inspired songs, here is one by a very under appreciated band from the 90s. This song builds slowly from the beginning and when it breaks, it doesn’t stop the bombastic assault until the very end.
I’m a drummer, so big bombastic fills really turn me on. But I love subtle backbeat tempo drummers as well. This week I’m going to send out different tracks that I think have some of the best drum sounds and performances. This track has double meaning, big drums and summer longings.
Enjoy...loudly!!

Friday, March 27, 2009

Foreign Beggars

While on the Hip Hop tip it'd be rude not to share one of my favorite UK finds... the Foreign Beggars... smart aggressive Hip Hop with an English twist...

Guerilla Funk




These days hip hop is so much about bitches and money... seems the thinkers and real lyricists are in the background. One of the most incendiary rappers of the late 80's early 90's was Paris whose track 'Bush Killer' sent him to court - he was kicked off the label after he refused to remove the track and has since controlled all his own music with his own Guerilla Funk imprint as well as producing and releasing records by the likes of Public Enemy. Paris still makes records with a strong political bent and some sick old school beats. Here's a newer track...and one from his first LP...... siiiiccck.



Thursday, March 26, 2009

Have an Awayday...

Just came across this on another site... I've never read the book Awaydays but now it's been turned into a film. There have been a few different attempts to capture football violence or hooligan culture on film, but this one is being pitched as 'this is england' meets 'control'... and it does have people from this is england in it, as well as joy division on the soundtrack. Actually, the soundtrack looks to be brimming with punk and postpunk goodies. It might have been different in 1979 Liverpool, but I don't remember proper casuals having very good musical tastes at all (or even being remotely interested in music).
I'll probably see this film anyway, just for the nostalgia factor and to pick up some style tips.

SOTD 4/26

matt pond PA –Summer is Coming
Man it’s a beautiful day here in SF! So at first this song may seem a bit melancholy or somber for today. But the lyrics speak for themselves. It’s like a slow start to what eventually becomes the energy that is summer. The rolling drum beat and the strings have this “waking up” quality to them.
Enjoy, summers almost here!

Kalri$$ian


A Taste of Kalri$$ian from Ben Sutherland on Vimeo.

local boys done good - my mate Mikey is in this lot - kinda a schtick, but they got the vibes to back it up....

Death Pedal

Trailer for new fixed film...looks good...


DEATH PEDAL Trailer by Kareem Shehab from Killa KAreem on Vimeo.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Bodies


Theres been a few bands with this moniker, but the band from Sonoma are my faves... they were really in the heyday in the late 90's, but are still around in some form today. I've been digging out their old records recently and they have really stood the test of time... super catchy punk like the Kids with some of the best vocals out there. There was a fair bit of controvery in the uptight punk scene about these guys being nationalistic.... but that vibe seemed to go along with all the bands from Sonoma... redneck Californians!! The guitarist collected White Power records too which was weird, but I'm too old to care these days.... this track is off their 'Addicted To You' EP which is my least favorite (yet still rips), but was the only one to hand. Their first EP on TKO records is the jam, as is their "Firepower Is Our Business" 12" on Vulture Rock.... dig in...

Radio

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

SOTD

...So in respone to MT's post...I'm doing my own SOTD. Unexcusable I know, but I can't help digging the Sov.... We saw her a few years back and she was great, then the next time she came she threw a wobbler and stormed off in tears after leaving everyone waiting for 2 hours.... boo hiss. The new LP is pretty ho hum, but tere are a couple of great tracks... like this Cure refix....

Monday, March 23, 2009

SOTD 4/25

The Appleseed Cast -The Summer Before

These's guys have evolved quite a bit over the years. Most people, if they've heard of them, have probably cast these guys off (pun intended) as mid 90's emo slackers that never found their own way. But I think they were lumped into that scene because of their label more than anything. If you look back they have always had hints of the super stoney, pink floydy vibe that rules the new record. There like indie rocks version of Radiohead, doing what they want, getting as stoned as they can and rockin some long spacey, but tasty jams.....fuck, I sound like a hippie.
Tune in, drop out.....fool!

Friday, March 20, 2009

SOTD

The Golden Dogs _Saints at the Gate
Check it!
Tim Brooks invited me to be a part of this blog about a year ago.......better late than never huh. The whole idea of SOTD (Song of the Day) is to get people excited about music again! It's my therapy, my sanity and at times my best friend. I probably won't post everyday, and somedays I'll post more than one. I think you can tell a lot about a person by what they listen to. So I'll shut up now and let you listen to this one and judge for yourself.........
Until next time, play your music loud!
MT
PS Click on the SOTD title to download link!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Varg Vikernes Released....

...I never really took that whoel Norwegian Black Metal scene too seriously...but folks got killed and churched got burned so I guess there was something to it!! Looks like the main player was just released...so we'll see what happens... I lifted this straight from the Gaurdian:

It is never reassuring to hear that a man who calls himself Count Grishnackh is to be released from prison. And yet that is what is happening to the Norwegian black-metal icon Varg Vikernes, who murdered Mayhem's guitarist and set three churches on fire.

It was just 16 years ago that Vikernes was sitting in an Oslo court, smiling as he received a maximum sentence. Best known as the leader of Burzum – whose first album begins with a song called Feeble Screams from Forests Unknown – Vikernes was also a far-right political activist and, er, grim dude.

Though he was refused four times for parole – most recently in September 2008 – Vikernes is now set to walk free, he told Daglabet magazine.

"I'm ready for society — and I have been for many years," Vikernes emphasised in an interview last July. "I have learned from my mistakes and become older. Now I just want to be together with my family ... I have barely seen my son since he came into the world. Even though I hear his voice on the phone almost every day, it is very tough to not be present while he is growing up."

For the past couple of years, Vikernes has been allowed to leave the prison and make visits to his family, according to Blabbermouth. His mother, wife, 18-month-old son and 16-year-old daughter all live in Tromsø near the prison. "I look forward the day that I [can] work on my farm, create music, write books and be with the wife and kids around the clock — and live a normal life," he said.

Though Vikernes will no longer be bound by prison schedules, he will have to regularly report to a parole officer, intially for every two weeks and then once a month. Count Grishnackh plans to move to a small farm near Bø and says he no longer has any ties with far-right Norwegian groups.

"My mind has never been in prison," he said. "I think all the time about what I should do on the day that I am released."





Tuesday, March 17, 2009

St Paddys Day

.... I'm not really too down with the St Paddy's day deal.... especially here in USA where every dickhead thinks they're Irish...whatever.. Anyhow, here's the shit I love about the Emerald Isle.. fucking Planxty - so good.
In 1972 Christy Moore released his second album Prosperous, which was recorded in a house in the village of the same name and featured his old schoolmate Dónal Lunny, along with Andy Irvine (who'd been working as a duo with Lunny), and Liam O'Flynn (with whom both Moore and Lunny had played at local sessions). After recording Prosperous, they formed Planxty. The group's first major performance, opening for Donovan in Galway, was a huge success. Neither the audience nor the band knowing what to expect, both were pleasantly surprised. Irvine, unable to see the audience through the lighting, was worried that the crowd was on the verge of rioting. It took him several minutes to realise what he was hearing was enthusiasm.
A formative influence on Planxty and in particular on Christy Moore was the singing of Irish Traveller John "Jacko" Reilly who hailed from Boyle, Co. Roscommon. It was from Reilly that Moore learned "The Raggle Taggle Gypsy," which was recorded on the first Planxty album, in addition to "The Well Below the Valley" and "As I Roved Out," which appeared on The Well Below the Valley. Planxty released the highly acclaimed single, The Cliffs of Dooneen, after which they were promptly signed to an exclusive contract in conjunction with Polydor Records. The bandmembers, inexperienced in the world of business, signed a contract for £30,000, but for six albums, and with a low royalty percentage. (They were never to make much money from album sales, and were substantially in debt by the time the group dissolved.)
The group became very popular in the next few years in Ireland, Britain and Europe, and they recorded two more albums in the following two years. After that they split up, and a compilation called The Planxty Collection was released.
The four original members of Planxty reunited in 1979. They recorded three albums, and made several changes and additions to their lineup. (the above was stolen from Wiki).... all of the Planxty stuff is worthy, and in my opinion the best of the trad Irish bands (although the Bothy Band come a pretty close second)
Also a Christy Moore clip - not sure if it's going to be everyone's cuppa, but just love it. I thought I'd posted about him before, but maybe not... If I remember I will post Scottish hardcore legends Sedition's version of 'Ride On' which is as good, but in a totally different way.





Monday, March 16, 2009

Rectify

... When I was a kid, I wrote to every hardcore band in the UK...it's just what you did! I became friends with some of those folks... one of whom was Pig from the band Rectify. They used to be Classified Protest who were one of the unsung heroes of UK punk.... they never made it much further than a couple of tracks on comps and a handfull of demos, which is a shame as I loved them. Me and my friends went to stay with the singer Pig in the valleys of Wales... I was 15 and the tribalism of the place blew my mind. The night ended with Pig biting the nose of some kid from the nexy valley for bullying local kids and telling him 'the lock is on'... mental. I love Classified Protest and Rectify. Punk on Postcards just upped the Rectify split with Bazzy & The Budgies who are pretty shit.... the Recfiy side kills........

Rectify

Friday, March 13, 2009

Doom

I've done some posts about UK Hardcore in the past....I saw a lot of the more metallic bands in the late 80's and while I dug it, I was always more into USHC. For some reason I always had a soft spot for Doom.... their 1st LP is a classic.. and the lyrics to 'Relief" are a mantra of mine.
"Can't stand the pressure, the pressures of life...I'm sorry....alcohol"
Genius.

Relief

Thursday, March 12, 2009

John Joseph


I wrote about 'Evolution Of A CroMagnon' a while ago... but I am just now listening to the spoken word version... it is amazing... this shit needs to be a movie.....






Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Incredible Kidda Band

The Neck won't shut up about this lot... and he's pretty on the money, these cats are hot!! They look gay as a nine bob note, but definately bring the powerpop jams....From the UK...late 70's, their 7"s are impossible to get, and the fucking reissue LP goes for 50 bones.....

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Filth Hounds Of Hades


When I was a kid I was sorta on the outskirts of NWOBHM )New Wave Of Bristish Heavy Metal)... I mean Iron Maiden and Saxon kinda qualify, but its more about some of the lesser known bands like Sweeta Savage, Angel Witch etc. Some of it is wimpy shit, but the good is banging. I just picked up the LP by TANK called 'Filth Hounds of Hades', which I bought soley cos the cover is awesome. The music is kinda punked up Motorhead... totally feeling it...




Wednesday, March 4, 2009

U.P.S. live in 1984

Useless Pieces of Sh*t was a semi-legendary and notorious Tucson hardcore band in the early '80s. You can see some of their flyers in the awesome book Fucked Up And Photocopied. Here's a cool video that was shot for a cable access show in 1984. Check out the band playing on the sidewalk in downtown Tucson while the punx tear it up in the street! And listen for the U.P.S. classic "Fuck Shit Up"!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Young Offenders

So 3 of the B&M crew are in a band.... haven't posted about us before....so here is us at the Xmas shindig we played with the Airfix Kits and the Dirty Cupcakes. I am the bald one.

In League With Satan...

I'm on a Venom kick right now... I LOVED them when I was a kid.... my Mum bought me 'In League With Satan' for my 11th birthday.... I later sold them all 'cos I was too punk... years later, I have realized, that Venom were actually more punk than most of the shit I was listening to. Here is a clip of SICk stage banter.... so amazing. And then a clip of them rocking their all time classic 'Black Metal'...



Monday, March 2, 2009

Punk art to high art and back.........


Brooksy posted a piece about S.F. artist David Fullarton and at a quick glimpse i was reminded of Raymond Pettibon, a complement to David and his excellent work. Closer look though and the similarity ends with a combination of line drawing and text, Pettibon moves in a darker place to David's cool journal entries.




Raymond Pettibon is Gregg Ginn's brother and he came up with both the name Black Flag and the now legendary logo. Coming from the punk background he has since become a highly respected artist exhibiting worldwide. His work retains the early Black Flag cover style but it is held in some of the most influential collections of high art around the world. Next time you put on that Nervous Breakdown single, catch a glimpse of that Black Flag logo tattooed on your wrist or wash that faded t-shirt remember there are people paying thousands for those very images in pristine whitewashed galleries.......




Thurston Moore starts off talking about Raymond Pettibon and Sonic Youth's relationship with him over the years.

And back again to punk rock.........

No Talk In The 80's

The Hates are a seriously underrated Houston band... they are still going today but are waaaay less interesting than they were in the early 80's, their 1st 3 7"s and 'Houston' 12" are gems and not too crazy hard to find. Here's them doing my fave song of theirs 'No Talk In The 80's'....