IF IT'S DEAD, IT'S BECAUSE YOU KILLED IT

Sorry I missed last month on the monthly mix gig. But I had A LOT on my plate with the Heart of Steel comp and what not. If I get around to it, I will make a second mix for this month highlighting some of the dark, broody music that encompassed the finals soundtrack for HEART OV ZTEEL. For now, here is Volume 7.

Pretty simple. I have been hearing a lot of talk lately about how hardcore is over, or punk is dead. Or whatever. Blah, blah, blah. So I thought I would go through some of my favorite tracks from current hardcore/punk oriented bands. So here you have it, 25 tracks proving beyond shadow of doubt that things are alive and well. Maybe you will listen to this and think a lot of the music sucks. But it's not really about that. Hell, a lot of the bands in late 80's and early 90's sucked too, but it's pretty undeniable that that was a high point for punk and hardcore. So the moral is, if you don't like these bands, START YOUR OWN FUCKING BAND. Don't sit around and whine about how shows back in the day were so much cooler, or how punk is totally dead, yadda yadda. If it's dead, it's because you killed it.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE MIX

1. MINDSET
2. ON
3. HOW WE ARE
4. OFFSIDES
5. CULT RITUAL
6. WASTED TIME
7. PUSHER
8. GLASSES
9. PUNCH
10. CONFINES
11. PAINTBOX
12. SOCIAL CIRKLE
13. REHASHER
14. ARMALITE
15. RVIVR
16. THE ICE
17. DOOMRIDERS
18. LOTUS FUCKER
19. PAINT IT BLACK
20. NO FRIENDS
21. STRIKE ANYWHERE
22. NATIONS AFIRE
23. BREAK EVEN
24. TITLE FIGHT
25. THE LOVED ONES
    

INSPIRATION

Every once in a while, through the endless murk and mire of product, videos, and concepts...one will arise that is so goddamn awesome it almost defies description. I refrain from reposting every frigging cool video I find on the internet. If you want a site for that, there are plenty out there. But this one I have run in to just so happens to combine many things which are dear to me. Cycling, the mountains, travel, good music, social activism, and radical clothing.

It is no secret that Rapha makes extremely expensive and equally awesome garments for cycling and lifestyle. So when their Spring/Summer 2010 line was made public recently, I gave it a look. Nothing completely out of the ordinary. Just really well thought out and designed apparel for the cycling community at large. But then I found this video:

TRANSIT ELITE from Dave Christenson on Vimeo.

Wow. I mean. It makes me want to go out and order one of the damn sweaters right this second. I love a brand or product with a story. And not just some contrived story for the sake of having a story. Because I'm sorry, but there is a difference between a "theme", and a "story". Something many brands seem to get confused about. Rapha has completely nailed it with this one. Good work guys. It's really great to see someone not only do things well, but do things GOOD. If you take my meaning. My only beef is obviously with the use of Cashmere and Wool. Then again, I suppose some people's version of social justice only applies to humans. Sad.

Either way, the video is superbly crafted, as is the sweater. As is the entire concept behind it. More brands should put at least half this much thought in to what they do.

IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT

So, as I posted last....I went to see a really stellar show at Great Scott in Allston. The bill was: Megasus (RI), Howl (RI), Iron Age (TX), Skeletonwitch (OH), and Doomriders (MA). Needless to say, this is a strong bill from start to finish. It was actually pretty hard to say what band I was even there to see, if you take my meaning. It was sold out, which I suppose is not saying too much in a club this size. But whatever. All in all, the show was phenomenal. It's nice to go to a show where you don't leave the front of the stage once all night.

I missed Megasus, but had heard good things about them. I picked up their LP on the way out the door based solely on the artwork alone. As it turns out, the record is good too!

MEGASUS ARTWORK. Total purchase inducing.

Dre with the metal hair!

Howl was getting ready to play just as we walked in the door. I have to say I have a tiny little soft spot in my heart for Andrea, their guitarist as we were very close friends years back when we both lived in Gainesville, FL. I remember when her boyfriend at the time was teaching her how to play guitar and we would sit in her bedroom listening to Ire records and he would teach her chords and what not. Ahhh memories. The moral is it's really awesome to see Dre ripping it up in an awesome band all these years later. Howl's music is really awesome, and sort of reminds me of a more metal and less sludgy Neurosis....or something. My only complaint was that they took too long to set up, and then their singer decided mid-song that he wanted to swap guitars. So he just stopped playing and there was about 6 minutes of down time. Sort of ruined the energy of their performance. Either way, go get their EP, because it's fucking radical.

Iron Age....KVLT?

Up next was Iron Age. I made the comment about how I thought it was pretty cool that there was a hardcore band on an obviously predominantly metal bill. Stupid me, since last I heard Iron Age, they had obviously gotten their hands on some black metal records. Because everyone in the band had grown their hair out, were clad in metal shirts, and their singer had changed his vocal stylings from the sort of gruff Cro-Mags thing they had going before to some sort of shitty screechy metal thing. They also had obtained a new guitarist whom apparently just wanted to "get dusted", listened to shitty racist black metal (Graveland), and made some comment about how he wanted to see the girls up front get kicked in the face. I'm sure this is all really hilarious to someone. But it's not to me. They were still awesome live. Their new songs are good as hell. But the reality is that Iron Age was much better when they were a hardcore band.

Skeletonwitch

Skeleton Witch. Man, Ohio is a funny place. Not sure that there is anywhere else in the country where a band like this could come from. Very melodic, shredding, dancing guitars. Basically every metal stereotype is used, abused, exploited, and embraced by these guys. And while normally this would bug the shit out of me. It works really well for them. Like...REALLY WELL. Their drummer even had TWO KICK DRUMS with obnoxious heavy metal artwork painted on them. Hahaha. Spiked bracelets, long hair, denim vests, and comments telling the crowd to "get drunk, smoke weed, and EAT PUSSY." I am not kidding. I couldn't make this shit up. And I'm telling you, even if these guys are total poseurs....it fucking works, and they were amazing. Albeit a bit monotonous, but still great. I had some tracks by them but had never seen them live. Get in to it.

Doomriders.

Up last, Doomriders. First off all...Nate Newton has turned in to a goddamn lumberjack since last I saw him. Holy hair! Anyways....as I said, this was a very, very solid bill. So it's pretty amazing how Doomriders managed to get on stage after all of these great bands played AND STILL BE ABOUT 500 TIMES BETTER THAN ALL OF THEM COMBINED. I don't give a shit what anyone says "Darkness Come Alive" is one of the best songs in the last five years, hands down. They tore through a maddeningly awesome set. I have no other words. Get their records.

Thanks to all the bands for the great show. Thanks to Steph for taking the dope pictures.

GREAT SCOTT!

So, last night I went to a show at Great Scott here in Boston. I had never so much as heard of the bands. And I must admit, in my somewhat jaded old age, it's been a while since I have dropped coin on a show where I knew zero about any of the bands. Here is how it shook out:

Some band from Brooklyn called GROOMS played. They were....fine. Sonic Youth was a good band, I get it. But I'm not sure I would start a band based on that notion alone. But whatever. I have sure as hell seen worse bands. Apparently they are a "noise-pop band from Brooklyn", uhhhh right.

Up next was a Boston band called YOUNG ADULTS. And I am not finna lie....they were awesome. I am not entirely sure how I would describe them...I guess "post-punk" but ew, I hate terms like that. Honestly though, you need to check this band out. Immediately. They are going to get big, promise. Don't listen to me though, check out their demo for free HERE.

So all in all it was a nice night out. Could have been a heck of a lot worse, that's for sure. I would have pictures of the show too, except that my partner in crime went to all the trouble of packing up her bag, stopping by her house to get her flash, swapping lenses, and FORGETTING HER SD CARD. Oof.

In other news, tonight there is an absolutely amazing show taking place at Great Scott. If you don't go, you might be an actual idiot. DOOMRIDER's new album "Darkness Come Alive" is my pick for best record of 2009. The show starts at 9. See you there.

GOOD.

For those of you that are local here in Boston. I have for the past month or so been DJ-ing at The Model in Allston. To any of you whom have come out to hang, dance, and support....thank you so much.

I plan to continue do it. It's every other Sunday from 10pm-2am. I play pretty much whatever the hell I feel like, so there aren't really any restrictions. I am pretty sure one night we went from Slayer to Kanye West. Which is either the best or worst thing ever. You decide. At any rate, in my constant need to stay busy, put things out there, do things new and exciting, I have started a blog for the night. Bookmark it, and check back often, as we will be recording our sets each week and posting them on the blog for download. Plus we will be scouring the music world for the best new tracks, and we will probably share them with you on the site.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE GOOD BLOG.

If you haven't come out yet, please do. It's a great time. And it's free. Tell your friends too. Obviously, I am trying to get this thing going. Any help is much appreciated. Here is the current flyer for our party on the 21st.